Read the text and put sentences a–h in the correct gaps (1–6). there are two extra sentences.
a intelligent ones can make decisions on their own.
b sometimes ai programs on our computers can cause problems.
c that, though, shouldn’t be a problem for a few years yet.
d he even borrowed books from his local university and taught himself.
e they can then change what they do if the situation changes.
f however, we all use artificial intelligence every day.
g the two types of intelligence are very similar to each other.
h it was in a speech he made in 1956, when he first used the words ‘artificial intelligence’.
john mccarthy was born in boston in 1927. his parents had to move frequently because of the bad economic conditions of the 1920s and 30s, but eventually his father found work in los angeles and the family settled there. as a child, mccarthy was very good at maths. when he went to university, he didn’t have to do the first two years of his course. he already knew everything. after graduating, he got a phd and became a professor of mathematics at university. while working there, he thought up a new phrase. today most people know what this means, but a lot of what we know is because of the work mccarthy did in this area.
so what exactly is artificial intelligence, or ai, and how does it affect our lives? mccarthy called it the ‘science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs’. many machines can be programmed to act in a particular way. they do this by observing what is happening around them and deciding what to do based on what they see. however, ai is not the same as human intelligence. machines do not try to make the world better for themselves. not yet.
artificial intelligence is used in many different areas. nasa (the north american space agency) has ai machines on mars looking for signs of life. ai machines are also used on earth to do jobs that people can’t do. for example, they look for problems in cables and pipes under the ocean. these are very specialised forms of ai machines. 5 engines on computers use ai to find websites quickly. email programs use ai to decide which emails you want and which ones you don’t. for example, email messages from friends may disappear. even ai programs can make mistakes.
C That, though, shouldn’t be a problem for a few years yet.
G The two types of intelligence are very similar to each other.
John McCarthy was born in Boston in 1927. His parents had to move frequently because of the bad economic conditions of the 1920s and 30s, but eventually his father found work in Los Angeles and the family settled there. As a child, McCarthy was very good at maths. 1_D He even borrowed books from his local university and taught himself.__ When he went to university, he didn’t have to do the first two years of his course. He already knew everything. After graduating, he got a PhD and became a professor of mathematics at university. While working there, he thought up a new phrase. 2_H It was in a speech he made in 1956, when he first used the words ‘artificial intelligence’._ Today most people know what this means, but a lot of what we know is because of the work McCarthy did in this area.
So what exactly is artificial intelligence, or AI, and how does it affect our lives? McCarthy called it the ‘science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs’. Many machines can be programmed to act in a particular way. 3_E They can then change what they do if the situation changes._ They do this by observing what is happening around them and deciding what to do based on what they see. 4__A Intelligent ones can make decisions on their own._ However, AI is not the same as human intelligence. Machines do not try to make the world better for themselves. Not yet.
Artificial Intelligence is used in many different areas. NASA (the North American Space Agency) has AI machines on Mars looking for signs of life. AI machines are also used on Earth to do jobs that people can’t do. For example, they look for problems in cables and pipes under the ocean. These are very specialised forms of AI machines. 5 ___F However, we all use Artificial Intelligence every day.___Search engines on computers use AI to find websites quickly. Email programs use AI to decide which emails you want and which ones you don’t. 6___B Sometimes AI programs on our computers can cause problems.___ For example, email messages from friends may disappear. Even AI programs can make mistakes.