Carl Sagan once warned that when almost no one understands science and technology, we create “a combustible mixture of ignorance and power” — a prescription for disaster. That warning feels more urgent than ever in the age of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept from science fiction — it is the technology shaping how we work, create, and make decisions every day. This portfolio documents my month-long journey studying the history, theory, and practical applications of AI’s history and platforms at Houston Community College, tracing its roots from a single summer workshop at Dartmouth in 1956 to the large-scale models and real-time systems that define the field today.

Each page, feature, and module represents a different lens: historical context, hands-on experimentation, critical analysis, and creative application. Whether you are a fellow student, a curious visitor, or a future employer, I invite you to explore the work and the thinking behind it.

Cesar Zaldivar  |  ITAI 1370 — AI History, Theory & Platforms  |  Professor Maryam Esmali  |  May 2026