Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by a machine, especially computer systems.
Alan Turing first proposed the question “Can machines think?” in his paper titled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” published in 1950. He reasoned that a computer could be considered intelligent if a human interrogator was unable to tell it apart from a human, given its responses during conversation. Computer scientist John McCarthy was the first to invite a group of scientists, to try to conceptualise the “thinking machines”. He said, “…every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it.”
The biggest advantage of AI is that it can process huge amounts of data. It’s based on simple or more complex algorithms depending on the task it is assigned to.
A stepping-stone to AI is machine learning. Machine learning allows computers to handle new situations via analysis, self-training, observation and experience. They “learn” through experience, and training data.
The applications of AI are countless. From language recognition apps, self-monitoring and correcting machines, self-driving vehicles using IoT technology, to more everyday applications like Siri or Alexa.