Artificial intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence is intelligence exhibited by machines. On the other hand, natural intelligence is the intelligence exhibited by humans and animals. The study and development of AI aims to simulate human functions and behavior. In computer science, the field of AI research defines itself as the study of "intelligent agents," any device that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chance of success at some goal. Colloquially, the term "artificial intelligence" is applied when a machine mimics cognitive functions that humans associate with other human minds, such as learning and problem solving.

Artificial Intelligence, designed to perform a narrow task such as facial recognition, internet searches or driving a car, is known as narrow AI, weak AI or applied AI. Narrow AI can outperform humans at specific task such as solving equations. General AI, AGI or strong AI refer to AI with the ability to outperform humans at nearly every cognitive task. The timing of the arrival of human-level AI is not known but estimated by some experts to be centuries away and by researchers at the 2015 Puerto Rico Conference to be expected before 2060.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are often used interchangeably. AI is the broader concept of the ability of machines to carry out tasks in a manner that is considered “smart”. ML is a technique for realizing AI and it is an application of AI where machines are given access to data from which they learn form themselves.

Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks (ANN). Artificial neural network (ANN) processing devices can be algorithms or actual hardware that are loosely modeled after the neuronal structure of the mammalian cerebral cortex. ANN devices are designed to classify information in the same way a human brain does. An ANN system is taught to recognize items such as images and classify them based on their elements. The system makes statements, decisions or predictions. A feedback loop enables “learning” as it can be told whether decisions are right or wrong and then modify the approach in the future. Deep learning is used in online language translation and automated face-tagging in social media. Deep learning has been used to develop computer vision to detect breast cancer based on mammogram scans. Training on neural networks is also used for natural language processing (NLP) and generation (NLG).

The concept of artificial intelligence has been existent as early as the Ancient period. In China, a life-sized human automaton was made by a mechanical engineer named Yan Shi in 1000 BC. In Egypt, a Greek mathematician popularly known as Hero of Alexandria has his own works on programmable automata which presages the modern discipline of cybernetics. In 1637, Rene Descartes, identified the division between machines that might one day learn to perform a specific task and those that would be able to adapt to any job, like the difference between narrow and general AI.

In 1956 the term "artificial intelligence" was coined by John McCarthy for his proposed research project to investigate whether features of intelligence could be simulated by computers.

In the 20th century, AI has continually developed and still advancing. The technological advances boosted the understanding of theories and forged techniques essential to artificial intelligence. AI is an integral part of the technology industry. AI techniques and advancements have been aiding in various fields in science and technology in solving challenges.