film: The Age of Intelligent Machines

writer: by Ray Kurzweil

year: 1987

created for: museum exhibit

book: The Age of Intelligent Machines

author: by Ray Kurzweil

year: 1990

created for: museum exhibit

museum exhibit: “Robots + Beyond: the age of intelligent machines”

year: 1987

Dear readers,

From my archives: I wanted to share this classic documentary film and book from the late 1980s — almost 30 years ago. It’s my early vision of the future of computing, along with commentary and insights from a bevy of computer science experts.

I wrote the film in 1987 to accompany the science museum exhibit “Robots and Beyond: the age of intelligent machines.”

So this short film became the basis for my 1990 book The Age of Intelligent Machines — the film toured nationally across science and technology history museums.

Both the short film and book won quality awards, listed below. In the film you can see vintage footage of my friend Stevie Wonder, who was my collaborator in developing the Kurzweil Music Systems company to create electronic music synthesizers. The Age of Intelligent Machines book is also available on this website, link below. Enjoy the film and book!

— Ray Kurzweil

— awards: book —

book award • for: The Age of Intelligent Machines

author: by Ray Kurzweil

group: Assoc. of American Publishers

division: professional + scholarly publishing

honor: Profesional + Scholarly Excellence Awards

competition: each year

category: computer science

award: most outstanding book in computer science

year: 1990

— awards: film —

film award • for: The Age of Intelligent Machines

writer: by Ray Kurzweil

group: Council on International non-Theatrical Events

honor: Golden Eagle Awards

competition: each year

category:

award: the Golden Eagle

year:

about | from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press

Film summary from year 1987.



The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press book The Age of Intelligent Machines was produced for the science museum exhibit: “Robots and Beyond: the age of intelligent machines.” This film was produced for a mainstream audience, and shows progress in the computer field of artificial intelligence. The soundtrack features legendary music star Stevie Wonder.

The film series has 2 parts:

part 1 | machines that think

part 2 | intelligence — it’s amazing!

Machines that talk, listen and learn — and move like humans. Called artificial intelligence, these smart electronic devices and their software offer new hope and power. How will the next industrial revolution affect people? How will the world adapt? The film showcases artificial intelligence now working and in labs. We think about the paradoxes, promise and challenges of new computer science tools. We meet expert inventors: Marvin Minsky PhD, Roger Schank PhD, Raj Reddy PhD and more.

Ryszard S. Michalski PhD — was a George Mason University professor whose research helped shape the computer field called machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence. He was a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. From 1987 — 1990 he helped develop the exhibit: “Robots and Beyond: the age of intelligent machines” that toured museums throughout the United States.

Bradley L. Whitehall PhD — from the University of Illinois is a key figure in computer science. artificial intelligence. Whitehall was also with with United Technologies Research Center. He researched how to use machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve engineering problems. He managed a major section of the “Robots + Beyond: the age of intelligent machines” development effort at the University of Illinois. It was a request from the Boston Museum of Science for major universities to demo artificial intelligent systems for the public.

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on the web | background

Wikipedia | The Age of Intelligent Machines

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Robots and beyond, exploring artificial intelligence — museum exhibit

The Franklin Institute | Robots and beyond, the age of intelligent machines — museum exhibit

1987 “Robots and Beyond: The Age of Intelligent Machines.” 3 dozen robots walk, talk, think & feel. Working replica of Guttenberg printing press.