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ConceptsBeginner1956

AI

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is technology that can do tasks that normally need human thinking, such as understanding language, recognising images or making predictions.

Explained simply

Artificial intelligence is technology that can do tasks that normally need human thinking, such as understanding language, recognising images or making predictions.

1Human task
→
2AI system
→
3Pattern or decision
→
4Useful result

At a glance

Category
Concepts
Difficulty
Beginner
Introduced
1956

Real example

Your phone recognises your face, your email filters spam and ChatGPT answers a question—all are uses of AI.

Why it matters

AI is becoming part of everyday products and work. Understanding the broad term makes every more specific AI concept easier to place.

Timeline

Origins

The ideas behind AI begin developing.

1956

AI becomes a recognised term or technique.

Wider use

Research and practical applications increase.

Modern AI

AI becomes connected to newer AI systems and products.

Today

AI remains relevant in the concepts area of AI.

Dates for broad concepts may describe the period when the idea emerged or became widely used, rather than one exact invention date.

Learn next

Continue with these connected terms:

Machine LearningMachine learning is a way for computers to learn patterns from examples instead of being given every rule.→Generative AIGenerative AI creates new content such as text, images, audio, video or code.→AgentAn AI agent is an AI that can work toward a goal by planning steps, using tools and taking actions—not just replying to a question.→

Simple infographic

A quick visual way to understand AI.

1Human task
→
2AI system
→
3Pattern or decision
→
4Useful result
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