A new technology is helping machines think in ways that seem human. Here’s what you need to know about it.

A new technology is helping machines think in ways that seem human. Here’s what you need to know about it.

AI is short for artificial intelligence. It’s a type of computer program. All computers work thanks to programs. For example, Google Chrome is a program that allows you to access the internet. But AI programs are special. They allow your computer to do more complex tasks—ones that normally require a human’s ability to think or learn.

Scientists have been working on AI since the 1950s. It started out as a way for computers to solve difficult math problems.

Today there is a new type of AI called generative AI, or GenAI for short. GenAI programs can generate, or create, new content like text and images. One example is ChatGPT, which launched in 2022. This program can have humanlike conversations by responding to the questions you ask. Another program called DALL-E, which was created in 2021, can design images based on descriptions.

AI is short for artificial intelligence. It’s a type of computer program. All computers work using programs. For example, Google Chrome is a program. It lets you search the internet. But AI programs are special. They let your computer to do more complex tasks. These tasks usually need a human’s ability to think or learn.

Scientists have been working on AI since the 1950s. It started out as a way for computers to solve hard math problems.

Today there is a new type of AI. It’s called generative AI. Or it’s GenAI for short. GenAI programs can generate, or make, new content. That includes text and images. One example is ChatGPT. It launched in 2022. This program can answer questions you ask. So you can talk in a humanlike way with it. Another program is called DALL-E. It was made in 2021. It can create images based on descriptions.

All computer programs use code—instructions written by a human. A regular program does exactly what the code tells it to and nothing else. But part of an AI program’s code tells it to do things beyond what’s written by humans. It allows it to make decisions for itself.

AI programs are designed to notice patterns in data, or digital information. They then use those patterns to make predictions. These predictions can seem like human decision making.

Here’s how it works. If you like Star Wars, you can predict that you might like the newest show. That prediction helps you decide to watch it. Similarly, Disney+’s AI program uses the pattern of shows you’ve watched to predict what you’ll want to watch next. That’s how it decides what to suggest to you.

The more data an AI program can analyze, the better its predictions become. That’s why it can seem like ChatGPT is thinking like a human—it has enough data to predict the next word in a conversation incredibly well.

All computer programs use code. A human writes these instructions. A regular program does exactly what the code tells it. But part of an AI’s code lets it do more. It can go beyond what’s written by humans. It can make decisions for itself.

AI programs are made to notice patterns in data. Data is digital information. AI then uses those patterns to make guesses. These guesses can seem like human thinking.

Here’s how it works. Say you like Star Wars. Then you’d probably like the newest Star Wars show. That guess helps you choose what to watch. Disney+’s AI program uses the pattern of shows you’ve watched in a similar way. It guesses what you’ll want to watch next. Then it suggests new shows to you.

AI programs analyze a lot of data. That’s why it can seem like ChatGPT is thinking like a human. It has enough data to guess the next words in a conversation.

AI programs can analyze a lot of data very quickly—much quicker than a human can! It might take you an hour to create a schedule for your week, pull together the perfect music playlist, or research and compare reviews for a new bike. AI can do all of those things in seconds.

That speed is helpful for a lot of important jobs. Some doctors use AI to instantly compare one patient’s information against that of thousands of others. That helps doctors quickly diagnose diseases like cancer. AI tools can even translate languages and write computer code!

AI programs can study a lot of data very quickly. They do it much faster than a human can! It might take you an hour to make a schedule for your week. Another task is pulling together the perfect music playlist. Or you want to research and compare reviews for a new bike. AI can do all those things in seconds.

That speed is helpful for a lot of jobs. Some doctors use AI to instantly compare a patient’s information against that of thousands of others. That helps doctors quickly diagnose diseases like cancer. AI tools can even translate languages. Others can write computer code!

AI has amazing abilities. But it’s not perfect. “Even GenAI is still just predicting what’s likely to come next,” says Johnny Chang. He’s a computer scientist who studies AI. “It doesn’t actually know if what it’s saying is true.”

Sometimes AI programs predict incorrectly and give false information. People who are using these tools might believe this misinformation is true and spread it to others. Since AI uses such a huge amount of data, it can be difficult for scientists to find out what went wrong.

Some also worry that relying on AI could mean losing human skills and jobs. Companies might choose to use DALL-E to create images or ChatGPT to write reports instead of hiring humans. Plus, if individual people use AI to write, draw, or create code, they may never develop those skills themselves.

AI has amazing abilities. But it’s not perfect. “Even GenAI is still just predicting what’s likely to come next,” says Johnny Chang. He’s a computer scientist who studies AI. “It doesn’t actually know if what it’s saying is true.”

Sometimes AI programs make wrong guesses. Then they give false information. People might believe this misinformation is true. They might spread it to others. It can be hard for scientists to find out what went wrong. That’s because AI draws from such a huge amount of data.

Some also worry that relying on AI could take jobs from humans. Companies might stop hiring people. They might choose to use DALL-E to create images. Or they might use ChatGPT to write reports instead.

Plus, anyone can use AI to write, draw, or create code. They may never practice those things on their own as a result.

No one knows for sure what AI might be capable of doing in the future. Scientists are still exploring the ways it’s being used and how to improve it. In the meantime, more than 180 million people already use ChatGPT regularly.

People are also looking for new ways AI could help in daily life. Some companies are testing AI technology in self-driving cars. Others are working on AI programs that analyze what you’ve learned and help you study, like a virtual tutor.

AI has the potential to make big changes—good or bad—to our world.

As Chang says, “It all depends on how we use it.”

More than 180 million people already use ChatGPT.  But no one knows for sure what the future holds for AI. Scientists are still exploring the ways it’s being used. They’re also studying how to make it better.

People are also looking for new ways AI could help in daily life. Some companies are testing AI technology in self-driving cars. Others are working on AI programs that analyze what you’ve learned. Then they could help you study. It would be like a virtual tutor.

AI could bring big changes, good or bad, to our world. As Chang says, “It all depends on how we use it.”