Find out what artificial intelligence really is with examples, expert input, and all the tools you need to learn more
The term AI has been in vogue for a while now. Artificial intelligence is a concept that has existed for many years, and various technologies rely on AI to function. But with tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard making headlines, it feels like a new age of artificial intelligence is upon us. But what is AI? And how does it work?
Here, we take a brief look at what AI is, why it matters, and how you can learn more about this fascinating field. As well as examples of where artificial is used, we’ve included quotes from experts and resources for further reading.
What is AI?
Artificial Intelligence is a subfield of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent agents capable of performing tasks that would typically require human levels of intelligence. These tasks include problem-solving, speech recognition, and decision-making, among others.
AI is an interdisciplinary science with many approaches; it can be rule-based and operate under a predefined set or conditions, or it can use machine learning algorithms to adapt to its environment. The latter is particularly powerful, as it allows AI systems to learn from data, making them more versatile and capable of handling unforeseen scenarios.
Common misconceptions
It’s also worth mentioning what AI isn’t. There are a lot of misconceptions about what artificial is, and here are some common incorrect beliefs:
- AI is synonymous with robots. AI is not limited to robotics; it’s a broader field that includes various technologies like search algorithms and natural language processing.
- AI can surpass human intelligence anytime soon. The idea that AI will soon outsmart humans is exaggerated; Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is still theoretical and far from realization.
- AI understands content like humans do. AI doesn’t “understand” text or speech in the human sense; it processes data based on patterns but lacks comprehension.
- AI is unbiased. Contrary to belief, AI can inherit biases from its training data or designers, meaning it’s not inherently unbiased. Check out our guide on the ethics of generative AI to learn more.
- AI can replace all human jobs. While AI can automate specific tasks, it cannot replace jobs that require emotional intelligence, creativity, and other human-specific skills.
