Final answer:
Earliest artificial intelligence systems focused on board games like checkers and chess as they offered clear rules, strategic depth and calculable outcomes. They provided a platform to demonstrate problem-solving capabilities in a controlled environment, helping to advance computational techniques in artificial intelligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some of the earliest artificial intelligence systems focused on board games such as checkers and chess because these games offer a controlled environment with clear rules and objectives, making them ideal for programming computers to simulate human thought and strategies.
Chess, which evolved from the 6th century game chaturanga, represents a complex challenge with strategic depth, which made it a suitable target for advancing computational techniques.
This focus on games also stemmed from the extensive development of computer technology during and after World War II, with figures such as Alan Turing leading the way in creating machines that could mimic human cognitive processes. The simplicity yet complexity of these games provided an excellent proving ground for early AI systems to demonstrate problem-solving capabilities and decision-making processes reflective of human intelligence.