What milestone marked the era of "Big Data" in relation to AI?

The milestone that marked the era of "Big Data" in relation to AI is the moment when IBM's Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. This event is significant because it showcased the capabilities of AI to process vast amounts of information and make intelligent decisions based on that data during a game of chess, which is complex and highly strategic. The match highlighted the potential for artificial intelligence systems to utilize significant data sets, thereby underscoring the relationship between the growth of data availability and the advancements in AI technology.

In the context of the other choices, while the launch of deep learning frameworks and the development of AI programming languages are crucial technological developments, they do not specifically encapsulate the moment that signified the transition into the era of Big Data. Similarly, the establishment of AI graduate programs reflects an academic and educational advancement, but it does not represent a concrete milestone within the timeline of AI performance as demonstrated by Deep Blue in a real-world, high-stakes scenario. Thus, the defeat of Kasparov by Deep Blue serves as a pivotal moment where increased data processing and AI capabilities profoundly intersected, marking a turning point for the evolution of artificial intelligence as reliant on Big Data.