In the mid-1980s, Sega, a renowned Japanese video game developer and publisher, ventured into the realm of artificial intelligence with the release of the Sega AI Computer. This system, one of Sega’s rarest and least known, was a full-featured computer with an educational twist, promising to bring users into the world of artificial intelligence.
#####The Genesis of the Sega AI Computer
The Sega AI Computer was released in Japan in 1986. It was seen as ahead of its time upon release, although it did not sell in large numbers. The system was intended for the household and consumer markets, marking Sega’s first foray into the world of home computers equipped with artificial intelligence.
The Sega AI Computer was a product of its time, with Sega’s use of the term “AI” or “artificial intelligence” being a bit loose, even for 1986. The system gave the illusion of intelligence by recognising and responding in real human languages, a far cry from the likes of modern AI systems like ChatGPT.
###Features and Specifications
The Sega AI Computer was equipped with a number of different modules, including a keyboard for programming, a graphics tablet, a speech recognition device, and a music composer. It ran software stored on Sega Cards, which were physically identical to those used in the SG-1000 II, Sega Mark III, and the original model of the Sega Master System.
The computer’s software, released from 1986 to 1988, included educational games. The system was powered by a NEC V20 processor, a 16-bit CPU based on the Intel 80186, and had 128kB ROM, 128kB RAM, and 64K VRAM.
###The Elusive Nature of the Sega AI Computer
The Sega AI Computer is one of Sega’s least well-known and rarest systems. In fact, the first auction sighting of a Sega AI Computer in 2004 valued the item at £19000. In 2014, a unit was sold on Yahoo Auctions for 124200 JPY (about $1100), and 15 software titles were auctioned.
The elusive nature of this machine has made it a subject of interest for game and computer historians and hobbyists. In 2014, a team at SMS Power managed to source a unit and some software from a Yahoo Japan auction. Since then, they have worked tirelessly to source as much software as possible for the system and get it emulated via MAME.
### The Legacy of the Sega AI Computer
Despite its rarity and relative obscurity, the Sega AI Computer has left a lasting legacy. Its educational focus and innovative use of artificial intelligence were ahead of their time, and it serves as a fascinating piece of history in the evolution of home computers and AI technology.
Today, the Sega AI Computer can be emulated, and all system ROMs extracted from the Sega AI Computer, data dumps from 26 my-cards and 14 tapes, many scans and photographs, and an early working MAME driver are available to the public. This allows a new generation of users to explore this unique system and its software, providing a glimpse into the early days of artificial intelligence in home computing.
The Sega AI Computer represents a significant milestone in the history of Sega and the broader field of artificial intelligence. Its innovative design and educational focus set it apart from other systems of its time, and its legacy continues to inspire and intrigue to this day.
[Sega AI Download-Roms-Manual-Info]
