The two main causes of the First Winter of AI were high expectations and lack of funding. In the early days of AI research during the 1950s and 60s, bold predictions about AI's potential created unrealistic expectations. When AI systems failed to meet these high expectations, disappointment set in. Consequently, funding for AI research, which had been plentiful, dried up as investors and government agencies became skeptical about AI's promises. This combination of overhyped expectations and reduced funding led to the significant decline in progress and interest known as the First Winter of AI in the 1970s.
Incorrect options include buggy program code, slow language execution, and intellectual property theft, which were not primary causes of the AI winter.
