Artificial intelligence (AI) empowers computational systems to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. Established as an academic discipline in 1956, AI's history saw cycles of optimism and "AI winters" before a significant resurgence after 2012, fueled by deep learning and GPUs, further accelerating with the transformer architecture post-2017. This led to an "AI boom" in the 2020s, driven by advanced generative AI now integral to applications like web search, virtual assistants, autonomous vehicles, and creative tools. While some companies pursue Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that rivals human cognitive abilities, the rapid progress in generative AI has also prompted global discussions on ethical concerns, unintended consequences, and the need for regulatory policies to ensure its safe and beneficial development.