The capability of computer systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence — including learning, reasoning, perception, and decision-making.
In Depth
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human cognitive abilities by machines. Rather than relying on rigid, hand-coded rules for every scenario, AI systems perceive their environment, learn patterns from data, reason about that information, and act to maximize the likelihood of achieving a goal. This perception-reasoning-action cycle can be as simple as a spam filter or as complex as a system that defeats world champions at chess.
AI is an umbrella term covering a wide family of subfields. Machine Learning enables systems to improve from experience without explicit programming. Natural Language Processing allows computers to understand and generate human language. Computer Vision gives machines the ability to interpret images and video. Robotics combines AI with physical actuation to operate in the real world. Understanding AI means understanding how these subfields interconnect.
It is important to distinguish between the AI that exists today — Narrow AI, which excels at specific tasks — and the theoretical future possibilities of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI). Current AI systems, despite their impressive capabilities, are highly specialized tools. They do not possess general understanding, consciousness, or intent.
AI gives machines the ability to perceive, learn, and act — replacing rigid rule-based systems with adaptive, data-driven intelligence that can generalize across novel situations.
Real-World Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Artificial Intelligence in simple terms?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence — such as recognizing images, understanding language, making decisions, and learning from experience. Instead of following rigid rules, AI systems learn patterns from data and adapt their behavior.
What are the main types of AI?
AI is broadly categorized into three types: Narrow AI (or Weak AI), which is designed for specific tasks like voice assistants or image recognition and is the only type that exists today; Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), a theoretical form of AI with human-level cognitive flexibility; and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), a hypothetical AI that would surpass all human intellectual capabilities.
What is the difference between AI and Machine Learning?
AI is the broad goal of creating intelligent machines. Machine Learning (ML) is a specific method for achieving AI — it uses algorithms that learn from data instead of being explicitly programmed. In other words, all Machine Learning is AI, but not all AI uses Machine Learning. Other AI subfields include robotics, expert systems, and symbolic reasoning.