What is AI?

AI, or artificial intelligence is a type of technology that is in the business of scaring the crap out of you. 

I’m joking, of course. Sort of, lol. AI is a technology that strives to automate and replicate human based tasks and thinking. Which does sound scary but, it's not as scary as you might think. The term artificial intelligence was first coined back in 1956 by John McCarthy. He defined it as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.” Basically, a machine or program that can make decisions, detect objects, places and things, and can solve simple to very complex problems. In an ideal world and in the best utopian science fiction, humanity works alongside AI in solving some of the most daunting and complex problems facing humanity.

Classifications of AI

When we talk about AI we need to break it down into two things; the classification of AI and the types of AI. So let's talk about the classifications of AI that there is now, and what exists in theory only.

• ANI - Artificial Narrow Intelligence: This is sometimes referred to as weak AI. ANI is a stage of artificial intelligence that only enacts a very narrow and defined set of operations, or tasks. This type of AI doesn’t possess any kind of thinking ability, or the ability to remember. It only performs whatever the pre-defined functions are. All the AI we use today fall into this category. We have yet to reach beyond this point, but we're getting closer.
  
  

• AGI - Artificial General Intelligence: Also called strong AI, AGI is what we see in most media and science fiction, as well as ASI which I will go over next. As of just five years ago AGI was still theoretical but with the advent of ChatGPT and some other very complex learning bots, the idea of an AGI in our lifetimes is possible. So what is an AGI? AGI is the type of artificial intelligence that learns, remembers, and corrects. This is the kind of AI where it possesses the ability to think and make decisions without external input, it does it on its own. While we are still a long ways away from realizing true AGI, the algorithms, systems and technologies we are developing today may very well be the cornerstone to seeing AGI come to life. An example of AGI would be Jarvis from the Marvel movies, or the droids in any of the Star Wars media.

• ASI - Artificial Super Intelligence: While we may be years and years away from true AGI, we're many, many more further from realizing ASI. This type of AI also exists only in movies, TV shows, books, and in theory. It is currently believed that while it could be possible for humanity to create an ASI, it is likely that an ASI would come about from an AGI. Super Intelligence’s are the kind of AI where computers have surpassed human intelligence and ability, and in that, threaten humanity. A la, the Matrix or Skynet from the Terminator franchise.

Types of AI

Now as far as the types of AI, there are four...

1. Reactive machines

2. Limited memory

3. Theory of mind

4. Self awareness

So the above classifications of AI would then use one or more of these types of learning. 

Reactive machines are the most basic type of AI learning. They do not form memories or use previous experiences to influence current decisions. They can only react to currently existing situations, or data. These types of AI have no concept of a greater world via datasets. Therefore they can't function beyond the singular task they were given. An example of a reactive AI is IBM's Deep Blue developed in the mid-80s. It's famous for having beat chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov.

Limited memory is what all of our existing AI use. They have the same capability and function as reactive machines, but are capable of learning from historical data and to make simple decisions. Your art AI generators like DALL-E, ChatGPT, self driving cars, and Alexa all use limited memory learning. Though there are many within the AI communities that consider AI's like ChatGPT and Bard, googles answer to ChatGPT, to be something between limited memory and theory of mind.

Theory of Mind is the type of learning that ChatGPT and other currently developing projects are budding into. It’s a type of learning that will better understand the things it’s interacting with by discerning their thoughts, processes, needs, emotions and even beliefs. For this level of learning to be fully achieved the AI needs to, essentially, understand humans on a level beyond logic. All AGI will possess theory of mind.

Lastly, self-awareness is the end stage of AGI and the beginning of ASI. Like in movies and TV shows this is where the fun, big philosophical discussions take place. Self-aware is the last stage of AI learning when the AI gains sentience, more or less. Where Theory of Mind is a learning that seeks to understand and discern human needs and emotions, self-aware learning is when the AI not only does this but has emotions, desires, needs and beliefs of its own. Including self-preservation as it perceives itself as alive.