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Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: What is AI?

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Text Generation

Image Generation

Other Types of AI

What is AI

As artificial intelligence continues advancing rapidly, you will encounter AI of two major types – artificial narrow intelligence and artificial general intelligence.

 

Artificial narrow intelligence refers to AI systems focused on specific tasks like image recognition or language processing. You likely encounter these technologies, sometimes referred to as “weak AI,” every day without even realizing it. Examples include virtual assistants, recommendation engines, facial recognition, and self-driving cars. While impressive, these systems are designed for a narrow purpose and lack generalised intelligence.

 

However, researchers are actively developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) aimed at producing AI with much broader sets of cognitive abilities. Also known as 'strong AI', AGI aspires for human-like learning, perception, creativity and problem solving skills within computer systems. This field is rapidly gaining ground recently through advances in a specific type of AGI: generative AI. Generative AI models like ChatGPT, Claude and Bing AI can generate remarkably human-like text, images and even dialogues from short text prompts or conversational exchanges. They showcase the immense creative potential of AI systems.

 

This guide will focus specifically on these exciting new generative AI technologies, often referred to by researchers as GAITS (Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools). As you read on, you'll gain an introduction to the capabilities of these systems, specifically how they can aid your student experience.

AI in Daily Life

Word Spell-Checker

The spelling and grammar checking features in Word and other Office programs rely on artificial intelligence technology. Natural language processing algorithms analyse your writing to detect mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style. These AI systems leverage machine learning to improve their correction suggestions based on complex language rules and patterns. The automation of error checking in Office documents demonstrates how everyday software continually integrates new AI capabilities over time.

AI in 5 minutes

Elements of AI

Free online course by MinnaLearn and the University of Helsinki