Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is a branch of computer science that aims to create software or machines that exhibit human-like intelligence. This can include learning from experience, understanding natural language, solving problems, and recognizing patterns. AI systems are designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
AI is generally categorized into two types: Narrow AI and General AI. Narrow AI, also known as Weak AI, is designed to perform specific tasks. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, recommendation systems on streaming platforms, and search engines like Google. General AI, also called Strong AI or Artificial General Intelligence, refers to machines that possess human-level intelligence and can perform any intellectual task that a human can do. This type of AI is still theoretical and has not been achieved yet.
Machine Learning is a core subset of Artificial Intelligence that allows machines to learn and improve from experience, especially from data. Unlike traditional programming where rules are explicitly coded, Machine Learning systems identify patterns in data to make decisions or predictions. There are three main types of Machine Learning: Supervised Learning, where the model is trained on labeled data; Unsupervised Learning, where the model finds hidden patterns in unlabeled data; and Reinforcement Learning, where an agent learns by interacting with an environment and receiving rewards or penalties.
Neural Networks are computing systems inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. They consist of interconnected layers of nodes, or neurons, that process and transmit information. Each connection has a weight that adjusts as the network learns from data. Neural Networks are the foundation of deep learning, which is used for complex tasks such as image recognition, speech recognition, and natural language processing. They can automatically detect important features from raw data without human intervention.
Artificial Intelligence has become integral to many aspects of modern life. Common applications include virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, which help with daily tasks through voice commands. Autonomous vehicles use AI to navigate roads and avoid obstacles. In healthcare, AI assists in diagnosing diseases from medical images and predicting patient outcomes. Financial institutions use AI for algorithmic trading and fraud detection. Content platforms like Netflix and YouTube use AI to recommend videos based on user preferences. These applications demonstrate AI's versatility and impact across various domains.