The Horizon Guide to AI

The BBCs Horizon programme began in 1964 and since then has produced films looking at computer technology and the emergence of artificial intelligence Our dreams always begin with ideology and optimism only for this optimism to be replaced with suspicion that AI machines will take over However as the Horizon archive shows throughout each decade once we have learnt to live with the new emerging technology of the time the pattern begins again We become once more optimistic before becoming fearful of it The dream for decades had been for a computer with AI to be embedded within a humanoid robot but just as scientists began to perfect machines with these qualities something happened nobody expected Today AI systems power our daily lives through smart technology We are currently experiencing a level of fear about the power of AI but will we enter the next decade optimistic about all that AI can deliver or fearful of its ability to control vast areas of our lives