Uncovering the Sega AI Computer: A Rare Glimpse into Sega’s 1986 AI Home Computer

In a surprising discovery, a little-known Sega computer system called the Sega AI Computer has resurfaced for sale in Japan, shedding light on Sega’s attempt to capitalize on Artificial Intelligence (AI) hype back in 1986. This home computer was designed to handle natural language and was targeted towards younger children, with plans to launch in the US that never came to fruition.

The Sega AI Computer is powered by the NEC v20 8088-compatible MPU with 128 kB of RAM and 512 kB of ROM spread across multiple chips. The ROM contains the character set, speech table for text to speech functionality, and the Prolog-based operating system ROM, which enables the AI capabilities of the system. For example, the ‘diary’ application prompts users with questions about their day and generates a grammatically correct diary entry based on their responses.

The system features touch panel overlays that can be used with cartridge or tape-based applications for easy interaction, or a full-sized keyboard can be used instead. A total of 14 tapes and 26 cartridges, known as ‘my cards,’ have had their contents dumped, along with the contents of every ROM in the system. Additionally, the manual and other documentation and advertising materials have been scanned in for enthusiasts to explore while running their own Sega AI Computer in MAME.

While the MAME system is still a work in progress and may have bugs, this rare glimpse into a piece of technology that never made it out of the 1980s is sure to pique the interest of tech enthusiasts and retro gaming fans alike. The Sega AI Computer stands as a testament to Sega’s innovative spirit and ambition during a time of rapid technological advancement.