WHAT IS AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are
programmed to think and learn like humans. The goal of AI is to develop systems that can perform tasks
that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-
making, and language translation.

There are two main types of AI:

 Narrow or Weak AI: This type of AI is designed and trained for a particular task. It can excel in
that specific task, but it lacks the ability to generalize its learning to other domains. Examples of
narrow AI include virtual personal assistants (like Siri or Alexa), image recognition software, and
recommendation algorithms.
 General or Strong AI: This refers to a type of AI that possesses the ability to understand, learn,
and apply knowledge across different domains, much like a human. General AI is still largely
theoretical and does not yet exist. Achieving general AI would involve creating machines with
cognitive abilities comparable to human beings.

AI applications can be categorized into three broad types:

 Reactive Machines: These systems are designed to perform specific tasks based on predefined
rules. They don't have the ability to learn from experience or adapt to new situations.
 Limited Memory: This type of AI can learn from historical data to make better decisions. Self-
driving cars, for example, use limited memory systems to process data from sensors and learn
from past experiences on the road.
 Theory of Mind (ToM): This is a more advanced form of AI that involves understanding human
emotions, beliefs, intentions, and other mental states. Developing AI with a full theory of mind is
a complex challenge and is currently more of a long-term goal.

AI technologies include machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics,
among others. Machine learning, a subset of AI, involves the use of algorithms that allow systems to
learn from data and improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed.

It's important to note that while AI has made significant advancements, it is not without ethical and
societal considerations. Issues such as bias in algorithms, privacy concerns, and the impact on
employment are some of the topics that researchers, policymakers, and society at large are actively
addressing.