Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fast-growing branch of computer science focused on enabling computers to perform a wide range of tasks that previously required human intelligence. Today, AI is used to power a wide range of tasks, such as image recognition, language translation, and prioritization of email or business workflows. So, if you have a smartphone, chances are you use software with AI capabilities every day.
AI is often discussed in tandem with the closely related concept of machine learning. Machine learning is the use of step-by-step processes called algorithms to allow computers to solve problems on their own - and, over time, get steadily better at doing so. Well-designed machine learning algorithms give computers the ability to solve a wide range of problems much more effectively and flexibly than if programmers had to provide detailed instructions for one specific use case.
While machine learning is used to create many simple AI applications, this approach typically requires massive, clearly-defined datasets to properly “train” the program. To create more sophisticated AI applications, an advanced type of machine learning called deep learning is used. Deep learning uses artificial neural networks that, as its name implies, are patterned after the human brain and do not require such structured datasets and human guidance to be successful. Instead, the AI application can be fed diverse, unstructured datasets and learn itself how to achieve a specified goal.
Even today’s most powerful deep learning approaches are not capable of mimicking the complexity and creativity of the human brain and its tens of billions of neurons. However, the field of artificial intelligence has made incredible strides in recent years, and is changing the way we live and work in ways that would have seemed outlandish a decade ago. Who knows what the next decade of progress in this exciting field will yield? Students learning skills in this area today may end up producing even more radical breakthroughs.
