How did we get to ChatGPT? The inventions, ideas and rules that made today’s AI, from the first electronic switches to reasoning models. Follow what each milestone built on and what it led to, right up to our news.
100 milestones · 1904 to today · each checked in at least 2 sources
When it happened
Each square is one decade. The brighter the square, the more milestones of that kind: progress was slow for decades, then sped up. Choose a theme to see only its milestones, or a decade to jump to it.
Milestones per theme per decade, from the 1900s to the 2020s
Mathematician James Lighthill reviewed AI research for Britain’s Science Research Council. The report, published in 1973, said AI had not delivered what was promised, and it was harshest on robot building.
Why it matters The council then reorganised its AI funding, and the report is often blamed for the first “AI winter”.
Note The report is dated July 1972 but was published in early 1973. Historian Jon Agar shows that the council steered the review, so blaming Lighthill alone for the first AI winter is too simple.
In October 1981, Japan announced a ten-year national plan for “fifth generation” computers built on logic programming. The project formally began in April 1982, when the ICOT institute opened in Tokyo.
Why it matters The plan alarmed the US and other countries, which funded their own AI projects; it was later judged a failure.
Note Japan announced the plan in October 1981, but ICOT and the project started in April 1982, so sources give 1981 or 1982. Calling it a failure is a later judgement.
The European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2016/679, known as the GDPR, dated 27 April 2016. It replaced a 1995 EU directive and applies in all member states from 25 May 2018.
Why it matters It limited decisions made only by machines, set fines of up to 4% of worldwide turnover, and inspired laws in Brazil, India and California.
Note “Adopted” covers several steps: Parliament voted on 14 April 2016, the act is dated 27 April, it entered into force on 24 May 2016 and it applies from 25 May 2018. We use the act’s date.
On 22 May 2019, the OECD Council adopted a Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence, known as the OECD AI Principles. The OECD calls it the first intergovernmental standard on AI.
Why it matters In June 2019 the G20 leaders welcomed AI principles drawn from it, and the OECD updated it in 2023 and 2024.
On 1 November 2023, 28 countries and the EU signed the Bletchley Declaration at the UK’s AI Safety Summit. It says the most capable AI models could cause serious harm, for example in cyber security and biotechnology.
Why it matters It started a series of summits, with South Korea and France hosting the next ones, and an expert report on AI risks led by Yoshua Bengio.
Note New Zealand joined on 23 October 2024, so the official list now shows 29 countries and the EU.
In December 2023, negotiators for the European Parliament and the EU’s member states reached a political deal on the AI Act. It sets rules by level of risk, bans some uses and covers general-purpose AI.
Why it matters It cleared the way for the final law: Parliament adopted it in March 2024 and the member states in May 2024.
Note Talks ended late on Friday 8 December; the official press releases are dated 9 December, so only the month is given.
On 1 August 2024, the EU AI Act, Regulation 2024/1689, entered into force. It sorts AI systems by level of risk and bans some uses, such as “social scoring” of people.
Why it matters Its rules switch on in stages: some bans applied from February 2025 and rules for general-purpose AI models from August 2025.
Note Later EU changes in 2026 moved some deadlines for high-risk systems; the stages named here did not change.
A milestone goes in when it changed what AI can do, the tools AI is built with, how many people use AI, or the rules for AI. It must be at least a year old: newer events are news.
We checked every milestone in at least two sources and read them: the original paper, patent, announcement or law where it exists, and a history source such as a museum, an encyclopedia or a report from the time. We never cite Wikipedia. Many “firsts” are disputed, so we say when they are, and dates are only as exact as the sources agree.
Last checked 4 October 2026. Found a mistake? Tell us, and we will correct it. How we report