Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a
type of
programmed or algorithm-based software
system that attempts to mimic elements of
human intelligence. AI often uses Machine
Learning, where a computer is programmed
with the intent and capability to
recognise, learn
and apply new information to a given
situation.
There are two main types of AI, Weak
AI and Strong AI [1].
- Weak AI - or Narrow AI - is designed
to
do specific tasks and can only do the
narrowly defined set of jobs it is
programmed for. Examples of Weak AI
include the familiar Apple Siri or Google Alexa tools that
listen and respond to defined speech
or text requests.
- Strong AI, by contrast, is designed to
be more human-like, with flexibility
in
the functions it can perform. It is
programmed to learn, adapt, reason,
make decisions, problem-solve,
and create content.
Generative Artificial
Intelligence (Generative AI) is a
type of Strong AI, which
takes what it has learned from its
programming - from huge
training databases and online
information - to create new content.
Creations may be in the form of images,
video, text, or even music and art with
some Generative AI tools being capable of multimodal creation - that is of
creating both texts and images [2].
For example, in the case of text creation,
Generative AI systems rely on very large
language data sets and use this data to
structure and predict how sentences are
built and information can be
conveyed.
Not all AI is Generative AI. It
is, however, Generative AI that has
captured most attention of late and is the
domain of AI that has provoked most
educational interest. As mentioned,
Generative AI is capable of creating many
different outputs: see the list below the
infographic for some examples.
Please read
our guide on to learn more about how Generative AI impacts Academic
Integrity.
Source: Visual Capitalist (2023) see source for reuse
permission.
Some current examples of
Generative AI technologies include:
Images
Video
Audio
Prose
Last Revised
Apr 2023.
References
Visual
Capitalist (2023) Generative AI
Infographic, Main [image],
available: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/generative-ai-explained-by-ai/ [accessed
17 Apr 2023].
Footnotes
[1] IBM. What is artificial
intelligence? Topic Post. n/d.
(Accessed 17 Apr 2023).
[2] Bushwick, S. What the New GPT-4 AI
Can Do. Scientific American, March
2023. (Accessed 20 Apr 2023).