This is a comprehensive subject that illuminates the evolutionary path of web development throughout the years. It encompasses numerous significant milestones and prevailing trends that have influenced the realm of web development. Let\'s take a glimpse at this progression: 

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): 

• The web\'s early days were dominated by static HTML pages. HTML provides a way to structure and format text and media for the web. 
• Limited interactivity and dynamic content. 

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): 

• CSS brought improved design and layout capabilities, separating content from presentation. 
• Allowed for more visually appealing websites. 

JavaScript: 

• JavaScript emerged as the scripting language for web browsers, enabling client-side interactivity. 
• The rise of AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) allowed for smoother, dynamic content loading without full-page reloads. 

Responsive Web Design: 

• The proliferation of mobile devices necessitated responsive web design to ensure websites adapt to different screen sizes. 
• Flexibility became a key aspect of web development. 

Content Management Systems (CMS): 

• CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal made it easier for non-developers to create and manage web content. 

• Streamlined website creation and maintenance. 

Web Frameworks and Libraries: 

• The emergence of front-end libraries and back-end frameworks like React, Angular, Vue, Node.js, and Ruby on Rails simplified and standardized web development. 
• Promoted code reusability and efficiency. 

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces): 

• APIs facilitate data exchange between different web services and applications. 
• Enabled the integration of third-party services and data. 

Web 2.0 and User-Created Content:  

The emergence of social media, content generated by users, and collaborative platforms ushered in a new era of the web, turning it into a vibrant and interactive space. This led to heightened user engagement and the sharing of data. 

Mobile-First Development: 

• With the growth of mobile usage, developers shifted their focus towards mobile-first web development. 

• Mobile apps and responsive design became the norm. 

Single-Page Applications (SPAs): 

• SPAs like Gmail and Facebook offered a more app-like experience, with fast, seamless user interactions. 
• Relied heavily on JavaScript frameworks and APIs. 

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs):  

PWAs merge the strengths of web and mobile applications, providing offline capabilities, push notifications, and enhanced performance. They have blurred the distinction between web and native app development. 

Web Assembly (Wasm): 

• Web Assembly is a low-level binary instruction format that enables high-performance execution of code in web browsers. 
• Opens the door to running complex applications and games on the web. 

Incorporating AI and Machine Learning:  

• The integration of AI and machine learning into web development has become prevalent for tasks such as personalization, recommendation engines, and natural language processing.  

• Chatbots and virtual assistants are now widely adopted functionalities. 

Accessibility and Inclusivity: 

• Web development has increasingly emphasized accessibility, ensuring that websites are usable by people with disabilities. 
• Compliance with standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is vital.  

Blockchain and Web 3.0: 

Web 3.0, often associated with blockchain technology, is seen as the next phase of web development, focusing on decentralization, privacy, and security. 

Conclusion: 

The progression of web development, spanning from HTML to AI, has been characterized by an unceasing quest for improved user experiences, heightened interactivity, and the assimilation of fresh technologies and approaches. This journey is ongoing, evolving further as emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and Web 3.0 mold the future of web development, ushering in new prospects and hurdles for both developers and businesses.