Accessibility Links

  • Skip to Main Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Footer
Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine Science Focus Podcast Previous Issues Contact Us Q&A
Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
Try our magazine
    Try our magazine
    Future Technology
    Nature
    Space
    The Human Body
    Everyday science
    Planet Earth
    Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
    Science Focus Podcast
    Previous Issues
    Contact Us
    Q&A
    1. Home
    2. Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial Intelligence

    Can computers think? Since the 1950s we have been trying to make computers that mimic the brain's complex neural networks. There has been success with specific challenges, such as when Deep Blue beat chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, but consciousness and general intelligence remain long term goals. More recent developments such as IBM's question answering system Watson, and Apple's intelligent personal assistant Siri have focused on answering user's closed questions.

    Robots: 5 ground-breaking new inventions © Shuguang Li/Columbia Engineering
    Future Technology

    Robots | Five ground-breaking new inventions

    Rodents change their vocalisations depending on their mood and who they're speaking to © Jelger Herder/Minden Pictures/FLPA
    News

    Artificial intelligence used to decode rodent chitchat

    Advertisement
    © Getty Images
    News

    AI technology could turn thoughts into speech

    The texture of an artist’s original work (bottom) can now be reproduced with AI-controlled 3D printing (top) © MIT CSAIL
    News

    AI recreates paintings using 3D printing

    Far from being just a game, chess has always been a part of me © Getty Images
    Future Technology

    Far from being just a game, chess has always been a part of me

    The discoveries bringing an end to heart attacks © Getty Images
    The Human Body

    The discoveries bringing an end to heart attacks

    If an AI became sentiment, would it gain human rights? © Getty Images
    Future Technology

    If an AI became sentient, would it gain human (or equivalent) rights?

    Jim Al-Khalili @ Getty Images
    Future Technology

    Exploring Artificial Intelligence with Jim Al-Khalili

    Advertisement
    Automation - the next industrial revolution @ Getty Images
    Future Technology

    Automation: the next industrial revolution

    2018's game-changing tech © Open Bionics
    Future Technology

    2018’s game-changing tech

    Should we be worried about sex robots? - Kate Devlin © Getty Images
    Future Technology

    Should we be worried about sex robots? – Kate Devlin

    There is no Plan B for planet Earth - Lord Martin Rees © Lucinda Douglas-Menzies/Photo Researchers
    Planet Earth

    There is no Plan B for planet Earth – Lord Martin Rees

    How to make AI that works, for us © Getty Images
    Future Technology

    How to make AI that works, for us

    The AI was shown a microscope slide containing lymph nodes (left), and it was able to correctly identify the tumorous region by highlighting it  in red (right) © Naval Medical Center San Diego
    News

    Google AI better than doctors at detecting breast cancer

    • You're currently on page 1
    • Page 2
    • Page 3
    • Page 4
    • Next
    333-footer
    BBC Science Focus Magazine

    Get a distinctive and entertaining perspective on the fast-moving world of science from the UK's no.1 science and technology monthly magazine.

    Subscribe today
    solar-system-footer
    BBC Science Focus Special Editions

    Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.

    Order now
    Science Focus Podcast © Getty Images
    Science Focus Podcast

    Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world.

    Listen

    Want to get the weekly Science Focus newsletter every Friday?

    Thanks! Our best wishes for a productive day.

    By clicking “sign up” you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how Immediate Media Company Limited (publisher of Science Focus) holds your personal information, please see our privacy policy.

    Site footer

    Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
    • Visit us on Facebook
    • Visit us on Pinterest
    • Visit us on Twitter
    • Visit us on YouTube
    • Visit us on Instagram
    • Subscribe to our RSS feed
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Code of conduct
    • Licensing
    • Magazine subscriptions
    Immediate Media
    This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. © Immediate Media Company Ltd 2019.
    Partner logo