What is the history of AI? It starts with a 1943 paper on artificial neurons and Alan Turing’s 1950 question, “Can machines think?” It gets its name at Dartmouth in 1956, survives two “AI winters,” and breaks into everyday life with ChatGPT in 2022.

What you get

• The book (40-page PDF, built for phones)
• Eight eras, from the 1940s through October 2026
• “Headline that day” boxes: what the news actually said, with outlet and date
• Fun-fact sidebars and a full 1943-2026 timeline
• 63 numbered sources to check every claim

Who it’s for: curious readers, students and anyone who wants the real story behind today’s AI news. Not for: technical readers looking for math, code or research papers.

FAQ
When was AI invented? The term was coined in 1955 for the 1956 Dartmouth workshop, the field’s founding.
Who is the father of AI? John McCarthy named it.
What was the first AI program? Usually given as the Logic Theorist, by Newell, Simon and Shaw (1955-56).
When did AI go mainstream? ChatGPT launched November 30, 2022.
Is it technical? No. No math or code.

Want every guide? The All-Guides Bundle has every paid Late to AI guide for $79.

Free starter prompts: late-to-ai.kit.com/c79451a214
Facts checked October 25, 2026. One-time purchase: download and keep it. See the store’s refund policy.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with OpenAI, Google, IBM, Anthropic, Microsoft, Meta or any news outlet quoted. Questions: imlatetoai@gmail.com