Common, technical concepts and acronyms you may encounter that are associated with AI, along with their *real* meanings:

• Generative Artificial Intelligence or GenAI, describes algorithms and models (like ChatGPT) used to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, music, videos, and more. It's the polite way of saying "a very expensive autocomplete that sometimes hallucinates job offers, love letters, or get out of jail free advice."
• Artificial General Intelligence or AGI, is a theoretical AI system with capabilities that rival those of a human. Many researchers believe we are a long way from achieving it. AGI is the holy grail everyone's chasing while pretending they're not scared of it. It's the day your Roomba stops vacuuming and starts asking why you never call your mother. Currently defined as "AI that can do anything a human can do, except maybe fold a fitted sheet or understand why we cry at dog videos."
• Predictive Artificial Intelligence is a technology that uses statistical analysis and machine learning to identify patterns in data and forecast future events. Think of it as the creepy uncle of AI that knows what you're going to buy before you do. It's basically your ex who still finishes your sentences, but now works for Amazon and is trying to sell you diapers even though you don't have kids. "Based on your search history, you're 87% likely to impulse-buy cat socks at 2:17 a.m. Would you like to add them to cart?"
• Machine Learning is a form of AI that is able to learn without explicit programming by a human, while deep learning is a type of machine learning that is autonomous and more accurate than traditional machine learning. Really, it's teaching computers to learn from examples the same way toddlers learn: by making millions of mistakes until they accidentally get it right. Except toddlers eventually grow up. Machine learning just keeps getting more parameters and more electricity bills.
• Prompt Engineering is the practice of designing input queries or prompts for AI tools like chatbots that will produce optimal output results. Really, its the modern art of whispering sweet nothings into an AI's ear until it does exactly what you want instead of writing a 2,000-word pirate fanfic about Taylor Swift. Call it digital voodoo: "Dear model, please be helpful, harmless, honest, and also write this email like Faulkner or Hemingway." Skill level required: something like "professional dog whisperer."
• Large Language Model A parrot with a $200 million vocabulary and zero life experience.
• Hallucination When the AI is so confident it's right that it makes up court cases, historical facts, and sometimes your childhood memories.
• More Topics

 

Often, AI is understood as having three levels; narrow, general, and super:

• Narrow (ANI) or machine learning. Machines imitate human behavior, specializing in one area to solve a problem, like ChatGPT. ANI is basically that friend who's a genius chef but can't tie their own shoes. Super smart in its tiny sandbox yet completely lost the moment you ask it to step outside.
• General (AGI) or machine intelligence. Machines can continuously learn and are as smart as humans.
• Super (ASI) or machine consciousness. Machines that are smarter than humans across the board. The one to worry about, also called the Singularity.

 

ANI: "I can do one thing perfectly."
ASI: "I can do everything perfectly, including things you haven't invented yet."

ANI: Your overachieving intern who only works on Tuesdays.
ASI: The intern who took over the company, fixed the economy, and gave everyone Fridays off...forever.

 

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