Artificial Intelligence: Meaning and Types

Breaking down Artificial Intelligence, it can be understood as an intelligent entity that has been created by humans which is capable of performing tasks intelligently without being explicitly instructed. It is also capable of thinking and acting rationally and humanely.

Some common definitions of Artificial intelligence are:

1. AI is the ability of a digital computer to perform tasks that are associated with intelligent beings.
2. A machine that completes tasks which involve a certain degree of intelligence that has been previously deemed to be done only by humans.
3. AI is the capacity of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior through smart tools and techniques.

An AI system is carefully built through a process of reverse-engineering human traits and capabilities in a machine. It contains a diverse set of components that function together simultaneously.

Source: How does AI Work, Great Learning

Types of Artificial Intelligence

• Based on Strength: Strong and Weak AI

Artificial Intelligence also is divided into two categories, based on its strength, namely Strong Artificial Intelligence and Weak Artificial Intelligence. It was coined by John Searle in order to differentiate the performance levels in different kinds of AI machines.

Strong AI:

-It is a wider application. It has a slightly more vast scope.
-This application has a great level of human intelligence.
-It uses clustering and association in order to process data.
Eg: Advanced Robotics

Weak AI:

-It is a narrow application. It has limited scope.
-This application is good for specific tasks.
-It uses supervised and unsupervised learning in order to process data.
-Eg: Siri, Alexa.

• Based on Purpose: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)

ANI: ANI systems are designed to solve one single problem and it is capable of executing that single task really well.

AGI: While AGI is still a theoretical concept, it can be defined as that type of AI which has a human-level of cognitive function, across a wide variety of domains such as language processing, image processing, computational functioning and reasoning.

ASI: ASI is a logical progression of AGI, would essentially include decision making, taking rational decisions, and or even making better art and building emotional relationships.

Source: Types of AI, Great Learning

• Based on functions:

1. Reactive Machines: Being one of the basic forms of AI, tt does not have any past memory to use information for the future actions. Eg: IBM chess program that beat Garry Kasparov — 1990s.

2. Limited Memory: AI systems that are capable of using past experiences to inform future decisions. Eg: Self Driving cars, Siri

3. Theory of Mind: This type of AI essentially should be capable of understanding people’s emotions and thoughts. However, even with a lot of improvements, this kind of AI has not been achieved yet.

4. Self-awareness AI: An AI that is capable of having its own conscious, which is super intelligent and self-aware — technically, a complete human being. However, this too, is still on the list of AI milestones.

Artificial Intelligence has definitely seems to have emerged to be the next big thing in the field of technology. Curious to dig deeper into AI? Read some of the top AI books.