What Is AI? – explaiined

So what even is artificial intelligence (AI)? Well, who — or what — better to explain AI than a form of AI itself?

According to ChatGPT (more on that later): “AI is like a smart computer system that can do things that usually require human intelligence. Imagine your brain is like a supercomputer. It can learn from experience, solve problems, and make decisions.”

AI can be as simple as a program that recognizes your voice when you talk to your phone or as complex as a self-driving car that can navigate streets on its own.

And what does it have to do with educators?

Because AI can simulate human processes, it can be used in classrooms to automate and streamline administrative tasks for educators, such as scheduling, organizing resources, and managing student records. It can also help educators personalize learning experiences, identify students strengths and weaknesses, and provide targeted interventions. Ultimately, AI empowers educators to create more efficient and effective working and learning environments tailored to their and their students’ needs.

Key Components of AI

Navigating the world of AI can be complex and overwhelming, especially when you’re just getting started. There are some key components that you’ll often see when reading or hearing about AI. Let’s delve into what these terms mean and how they relate to education.

Data

AI systems rely on vast amounts of data to learn and make predictions. The more data they have access to, the more accurate the predictions will be.

Algorithms

These are the rules and procedures that AI systems follow to process data and make decisions.

Training

AI models are trained using data to learn patterns and relationships, similar to how students learn from examples and experiences.

Feedback

Just as students receive feedback to improve their understanding, AI systems use feedback to refine their algorithms and improve performance over time.

Types of AI

There are two schools of thought on categorizing types of AI. Some prefer to base the categories on what AI can do (capabilities), and others say AI should be grouped based on what it’s used for (functionalities). The choice often depends on the context and purpose of categorization.

For our purposes, we’re going to focus on the capabilities approach. It’s important to understand that variations in terminology do exist across different sources and discussions. The terms below will give you a basic foundation on the three main types of AI.

Capabilities-based AI

Weak AI (also sometimes called Narrow AI) can only perform a narrow range of tasks. Think of Siri, Alexa, or any other virtual personal assistant. They’re only able to do a set number of things like set an alarm or play a song. It’s using AI in a very narrow scope.

Strong AI (also sometimes called General AI) is a bit more like how you see AI portrayed in sci-fi movies. It’s when a machine has the ability to think, learn, understand, and make decisions the same way humans can. Right now, this type of AI is only theoretically possible but is the primary goal of companies like OpenAI.

This type of AI is also theoretical; it is when machines surpass human capabilities and understanding.

Implementing AI

To implement AI effectively, you need a combination of data, algorithms, and computing power. Flip the cards below to learn more about two of the most common ways AI is “taught” to machines.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is teaching a computer to learn from data and make decisions without explicitly programming every step, similar to teaching a dog tricks by showing it examples and rewarding it when it gets them right. This allows computers to recognize patterns and improve over time.

Deep Learning

Deep learning is a form of machine learning that uses deep neural networks to handle complicated tasks. These networks are made up of many interconnected layers of nodes that work together to analyze and learn from data.

What about ChatGPT?

Like Midjourney, DALL-E, Bard, and other examples of generative AI, ChatGPT uses deep learning, neural networks, and machine learning to generate images, text, and music that resemble human-made content autonomously.

Although it is a rather sophisticated chatbot, ChatGPT is still a form of Narrow or Weak AI, as its primary function is to create human-like text based on the input it receives.

Test It Out

Try a simple activity to see how ChatGPT can be used to generate information and content for educators.