Stanford professor John McCarthy first coined the term in 1955.
Artificial intelligence refers to the ability of computer-run robots or computers to complete tasks generally associated with humans or intelligent beings. The concept of AI itself isn't new. Stanford professor John McCarthy first coined the term in 1955. Since then, AI has evolved leaps and bounds, moving from primitive AI that allowed machines to use programs to act in human ways to the more modern idea that machines can effectively "learn" to some extent.