AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. It refers to the field of computer science that focuses on the development of intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI encompasses a wide range of techniques and approaches aimed at creating systems capable of perceiving their environment, reasoning, learning, and making decisions or taking actions based on that information.
AI can be categorized into two broad types: Narrow AI and General AI.
- Narrow AI, also known as Weak AI, refers to AI systems designed to perform specific tasks or solve specific problems within a limited domain. Examples of narrow AI include speech recognition systems, image recognition algorithms, recommendation systems, and virtual personal assistants like Siri or Alexa. These systems excel in their specific area but lack the ability to generalize their knowledge and skills to other domains.
- General AI, also known as Strong AI or Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), refers to AI systems that possess the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across different domains and perform at or above human levels in various cognitive tasks. General AI aims to replicate human-like intelligence, including reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability. While significant progress has been made in AI research, achieving true General AI remains an ongoing challenge.
AI techniques include machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, expert systems, and more. Machine learning, in particular, is a subset of AI that focuses on enabling systems to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. Deep learning is a specific type of machine learning that utilizes artificial neural networks with multiple layers to extract and learn hierarchical representations of data.
AI finds applications in various domains, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, transportation, entertainment, and many others. It has the potential to revolutionize industries, enhance decision-making processes, automate repetitive tasks, and bring about significant societal and economic advancements.