What is Artificial Intelligence (AI), really?

I hear about Artificial Intelligence (AI) just about everywhere I go. I thought I knew what it was—ChatGPT, right?

Then a co-worker told me that’s not really what AI is. That made me wonder—what is it, then? What am I not understanding?

If I ask ChatGPT, "What is Artificial Intelligence (AI), really?" it responds:

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform tasks that typically require human cognition. These tasks include learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, language understanding, and decision-making."

Then it goes on to outline key aspects, such as:

• Machine Learning (ML)
• Deep Learning
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Computer Vision
• Automation & Robotics

It also explains how AI works:

"AI uses vast amounts of data, statistical models, and algorithms to identify patterns, make predictions, and continuously improve performance. It can be rule-based (traditional AI) or self-learning (modern AI with ML and deep learning)."

Lastly, and very interestingly, it clarifies what AI is not:

"...A sentient or conscious entity. It does not 'think' like humans but processes data based on mathematical models and predefined goals."

I guess I kind of knew this, but I wouldn’t have been able to articulate it as well. And I'm sure there's even more to AI than this definition covers.

That said, we certainly need to be careful and aware of where AI is pulling its information from.

This year, I’ve made it a goal to dive deeper into AI. So why not start a newsletter on a topic I’m clearly an expert in? (Note the sarcasm.)

Through this newsletter, I'll explore what's new in AI and how it can help us be productive. As it becomes more mainstream, I want to stay up to date—and if that interests you, too, join me and others as we discuss AI and its impact on our lives.