Preface

"To explore the relationship between heaven and man, to trace the changes from past to present, and to form a comprehensive view." — Sima Qian

Work in Progress

The English version is under development. Want to help? Contribute on GitHub.

The history of Artificial Intelligence is an epic story of humanity's attempt to understand and replicate its own intelligence. From the first mathematical model of a neuron in 1943 to the large language models reshaping the world in 2026, AI's journey has been marked by dramatic swings — fervent optimism, painful winters, unexpected breakthroughs, and boundless imagination about the future.

Why This Book

This book adopts the five-part structure of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) to systematically chronicle AI history:

• Annals: Chronological chapters tracing each era's core debates and turning points
• Houses: Institutional histories of the organizations that shaped AI
• Biographies: Profiles of key figures — their choices, contributions, and fates
• Treatises: Thematic deep-dives into technical domains and societal impacts
• Timeline: A comprehensive chronology of AI milestones

Why Open Source

History should not be written by one person. Through open-source collaboration, we aim to reduce bias, stay current, encourage participation, and ensure accuracy.

How to Read

• Chronologically: Start with the Annals, era by era
• By interest: Jump to any biography or treatise
• Quick overview: Check the Timeline