The Making of Human Mistakes in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, 1940–1990

Current investments in artificial intelligence (AI) are massive. There is considerable optimism but also concern. Still, our knowledge of its historical development is weak. Already in the mid 20th century the notion of synthetic reason was tied to the conceptualization of mistakes. Human mistakes should be addressed by improved engineering.

Yet, some voices stressed that mistakes as such defined a unique quality of the human mind. Should machines learn to imitate or, conversely, avoid them?

In recent years, AI as a story of progress has been balanced by accounts of the social and political consequences of smart technology dreaming. However, until now no study of AI history from the standpoint of mistakes has been carried out.

By concentrating on breakdowns, errors, and mistakes the quest for and critique of simulated cognition is opened to fresh scrutiny. The investigation is designed as three case studies. The first looks at experiments of self-correcting systems in early post war US. The second deals with so called expert systems around the 1960s.

The third case centers on Swedish AI history during the 1970s and 1980s within academia, government, and the military including critique of such initiatives.

The project adds knowledge primarily to two research areas: critical AI studies and the study of mistakes in the history of technology.

Considering the prioritized position of AI in current public and private spending it is imperative that we better understand its past.