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What is the ‘AI winter’ and how did it affect AI research?

The 'AI winter' refers to a period of reduced interest and investment in artificial intelligence research due to over-optimism about AI capabilities, unmet expectations, and limited progress in certain areas. During these times, funding for AI projects decreased, and the field experienced slower development.

For example, the first AI winter occurred in the late 1960s to the early 1970s when AI researchers failed to deliver on promises of creating intelligent machines. This led to skepticism and reduced funding for AI projects.

Another example is the AI winter of the late 1980s to the early 1990s, caused by the failure of many expert systems and the realization that AI was not as advanced as previously thought.

Despite these setbacks, AI research has made significant progress in recent years, with advancements in machine learning, deep learning, and big data analytics.

In the context of cloud computing, platforms like Tencent Cloud offer robust AI services and infrastructure that support researchers and developers in advancing AI technology. Tencent Cloud's AI services provide scalable computing power, extensive data storage, and advanced algorithms, enabling continuous innovation in the field of AI.