Artificial intelligence
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AI/ˌeɪ ˈaɪ/ | The simulation of human intelligence by computer systems. |
| narrow AI/ˈnærəʊ ˌeɪ ˈaɪ/ | AI developed for a particular task or limited domain, rather than general human-level capability across all activities. |
| general AI/ˈdʒenərəl ˌeɪ ˈaɪ/ | A proposed system with broad capability across many intellectual tasks rather than a single limited domain. |
| strong AI/strɒŋ ˌeɪ ˈaɪ/ | strong AI |
| expert systems/ˈekspɜːt ˈsɪstəmz/ | Programs that apply stored facts and rules to offer conclusions in a limited specialist area. |
| natural language processing/ˈnætʃərəl ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ ˈprəʊsesɪŋ/ | Computer methods for analysing, interpreting or generating human language. |
Machines that seem to think
- AI 人工智能 is the simulation of human intelligence by computer systems.
- It means a computer doing tasks that normally need human thinking.
- AI is grouped into three levels — only one of which exists today.
Computing concept lab
Classify concrete examples by the computing idea they demonstrate.
Characteristics of AI
- AI systems collect data and the rules for using it.
- They can reason (work things out with the rules) and draw conclusions — which may be approximate (a best guess) or definite.
- They can learn from data and adapt — changing their behaviour as they get new data.
Narrow AI 弱人工智能 does one task (all AI today); general AI 通用人工智能 could do any human task; strong AI 强人工智能 would be self-aware — neither exists yet.
Artificial intelligence is:
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AI is a computer doing tasks that normally need human thinking.
Which is a characteristic of an AI system?
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AI collects data + rules, reasons, draws conclusions, learns and adapts.
Examples and levels of AI
- Examples: expert systems 专家系统 (advice like a human expert, e.g. medical diagnosis), natural language processing 自然语言处理, and self-driving cars.
- Narrow AI — does only one task or a small set (e.g. a chess program). All AI today is narrow AI.
- General AI — could do any task a human can. Strong AI — would think and be self-aware like a human mind. Neither exists yet.
A self-driving car: sensors on the car let a computer steer it with no driver
Match each AI term to what it means.
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AI simulates thinking; expert systems advise from rules; today's AI is all narrow; strong AI does not yet exist.
Narrow AI:
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Narrow AI is task-specific (e.g. chess); general and strong AI do not exist yet.
All AI in use today is narrow AI (good at one specific task); strong AI, with human-like self-awareness, does not yet exist.
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A chess engine or a recommender is narrow AI; a self-aware, general mind (strong AI) remains theoretical.
The limits of AI
AI is only as good as its data. A system trained on biased or incomplete data makes biased decisions. AI can recognise patterns superbly but does not truly "understand" — judgement and oversight still matter.
You've got it
- AI = a computer simulating human intelligence
- AI characteristics: collect data + rules, reason, draw conclusions, learn, adapt
- examples: expert systems, NLP, self-driving cars
- narrow (all AI today) → general → strong (self-aware, not yet real)