What is intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that creates machines or software capable of performing tasks that normally require human thinking, such as learning, reasoning, recognizing patterns, and making decisions.
Let's break it down
- Data: The raw information AI learns from (pictures, text, numbers).
- Algorithms: Step‑by‑step instructions that tell the computer how to process data.
- Model: The result of running an algorithm on data; it’s the “knowledge” the AI has built.
- Training: Feeding data into the algorithm so the model improves.
- Inference: Using the trained model to make predictions or decisions on new data.
Why does it matter?
AI can handle huge amounts of information far faster than a person, uncover hidden patterns, automate repetitive work, and enable new products and services that improve everyday life and business efficiency.
Where is it used?
- Voice assistants (e.g., Siri, Alexa)
- Recommendation engines (Netflix, Amazon)
- Image and speech recognition (photo tagging, transcription)
- Self‑driving cars and drones
- Medical diagnosis and drug discovery
- Fraud detection in banking
- Smart home devices and industrial robots
Good things about it
- Increases productivity by automating routine tasks.
- Helps solve complex problems that are hard for humans alone.
- Provides personalized experiences (custom news feeds, tailored ads).
- Can improve safety (e.g., collision‑avoidance systems).
- Expands access to services in remote or underserved areas.
Not-so-good things
- Bias can creep in if training data is unrepresentative, leading to unfair outcomes.
- May replace certain jobs, causing workforce displacement.
- Raises privacy concerns when personal data is collected and analyzed.
- Can be vulnerable to adversarial attacks that trick the system.
- Over‑reliance on AI may reduce human skill development and critical thinking.