Defining Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, particularly computer systems. The key processes of AI include:
- Learning: Acquiring information and the rules for using it.
- Reasoning: Applying the rules to reach conclusions.
- Self-correction: Improving performance over time.
- Perception: Interpreting sensory data.
- Language Understanding: Processing and generating human language.
AI is categorized primarily into two types:
1. Narrow AI (Weak AI): Designed for a specific task such as facial recognition or recommendation systems. This form of AI is widely present in our current applications.
2. General AI (Strong AI): This is a theoretical construct that possesses the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks, mimicking human intelligence. As of now, this type of AI has not been realized in practice.
Understanding these definitions and categories is crucial as they lay the foundation for comprehending the various applications and limitations of AI discussed in later sections of this chapter.