AI — The Past

Long before artificial intelligence became a household term, humans were already building tools to extend memory, calculation, and perception. From early mathematics and mechanical devices to the first computers, AI has its roots in humanity’s desire to understand and model the world.

Early Tools and Symbolic Thought

Writing, counting systems, maps, and early machines were all precursors to AI—external systems designed to store knowledge and assist thinking. These tools allowed human ideas to persist beyond a single lifetime, forming the earliest shared knowledge networks.

Computing and Automation

The invention of programmable computers marked a major shift. Logic could now be executed by machines, enabling automation, simulation, and large-scale calculation. Early AI systems focused on rules, symbols, and narrowly defined problems.

Rediscovering the Past with AI

Today, AI is increasingly used to explore humanity’s past—through tools like LIDAR, satellite imaging, and pattern analysis. Lost cities, ancient road systems, and hidden structures are being revealed beneath forests, deserts, ice, and even oceans, offering new insights into civilizations long forgotten.