How did Nikola Tesla’s 1888 motor change the use of alternating current?

Nikola Tesla’s 1888 introduction of the prototype alternating-current (AC) motor was a pivotal development that enabled the successful, large-scale utilization of AC power.12

Prior to this, electric power systems were dominated by direct-current (DC) technology, such as the Gramme dynamo. Tesla’s innovation centered on his discovery of the rotating magnetic field, which provided the fundamental principle for his induction motor. By selling the patent rights to his polyphase system—which included AC dynamos, transformers, and motors—to George Westinghouse, Tesla provided the necessary components to challenge and eventually surpass existing DC systems.12

This transition was solidified through high-profile successes, such as lighting the World’s Columbian Exposition and installing power machinery at Niagara Falls, which demonstrated the efficiency and viability of the AC approach for widespread electrical distribution.2