Chapter 1: What is AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science dedicated to creating systems capable of performing tasks that normally require human intelligence. These tasks include decision-making, problem-solving, language understanding, visual perception, and learning from experience.
Types of AI
- Symbolic AI (GOFAI): Rule-based systems using logic and symbolic reasoning.
Who uses it: Legal tech firms, regulatory systems.
Why: Ideal for expert systems requiring traceability and logic, such as legal decision tools. - Reactive AI: Responds only to current inputs.
Who uses it: Game developers, robotics engineers.
Why: Useful for deterministic environments where quick decisions are needed, like IBM’s Deep Blue chess engine. - Limited Memory AI: Remembers past data temporarily.
Who uses it: Autonomous vehicle developers, customer support bots.
Why: Enables short-term learning and adaptation for tasks like driving or dynamic conversations. - Theory of Mind AI: Conceptual AI that understands emotions and beliefs.
Who explores it: Cognitive scientists, advanced AI researchers.
Why: Essential for future AI that collaborates or interacts empathetically with humans. - Self-Aware AI: Future vision of AI with consciousness.
Who imagines it: Futurists, science fiction writers.
Why: Explored in theory for philosophical and ethical discourse. - Hybrid AI: Combines symbolic and machine learning models.
Who uses it: Financial analysts, medical software developers.
Why: Offers explainability with predictive power, crucial in regulated industries. - Edge AI: AI deployed locally on devices like smart cameras.
Who uses it: IoT manufacturers, surveillance systems.
Why: Reduces latency, preserves privacy, enables real-time decision-making. - Conversational AI: Powers virtual assistants, chatbots, and voice interfaces.
Who uses it: Customer service providers, accessibility developers.
Why: Improves user engagement and reduces human workload. - Embodied AI: Integrated into physical robots interacting with their environments.
Who uses it: Robotics companies, logistics firms.
Why: Enables physical interaction with the world, such as warehouse automation. - Swarm AI: Distributed systems inspired by nature.
Who uses it: Drone swarms, traffic coordination systems.
Why: Enables decentralized, scalable intelligence modeled after ants, bees, or flocks.
Visual Diagram
+--------------------+
| Artificial |
| Intelligence |
+--------------------+
/|\
/ | \
+----------+ | +------------+
| Machine | | | Robotics |
| Learning | | +------------+
+----------+ |
/\ |
/ \ |
+------------+ +-------------+
| Deep Learn | | NLP |
+------------+ +-------------+
\
\
+--------------+
| Generative AI|
+--------------+