What the hell is AI?

 Artificial intelligence is machine learning, right? Artificial intelligence is equal to big data, isn’t it? My phone is artificial intelligence! Robots are artificial intelligence (and are taking over sooner or later)!

I have heard all of those and many more leading me to this article to help clear up what artificial intelligence really is.
(If you have similar quotes for me, hit me up in the comments.)

There are a lot of definitions for artificial intelligence and they all differ in some parts. Most of them on a definition of intelligence which in itself is already difficult to define. A simple approach would be to say that humans cognitive functions (e.g. solving complex problems or learning) is considered intelligent. So making programs or machines pursue the way humans might solve problems or learn can be considered as AI.

So computer programs can be considered artificial intelligence, when they solve complex problems the way humans would or learn the way humans would.

Those complex problems could be dealing with natural language (spoken, written), handling visual perception (detect objects in images, process video, read content in images), controlling motors (steering a car, controlling transport mechanisms), planning (find best routes, find working schedules) or game theory (beating humans in games).

So the shallow answer to what the hell AI is would be the one stated above.

But what is machine learning then or big data or my phone or that robot? If you want a more specific answer to that question you can continue to read “Types of AI”.

If you want to find out more about an AI paradox you can continue reading “A paradox within AI and what is intelligent?”.

Or you can read “Practical applications for AI” to see if you can create an AI product that would fit your need.