AI From Zero - Lesson 2: AI Demystified
What Exactly is Artificial Intelligence?
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
In our first post, we set the stage for your AI journey. Now, let's dive into the core question: What exactly is Artificial Intelligence? For many, AI sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. While AI can do amazing things, it's often simpler than you think.
AI: It's Not Magic, It's just Math (and Data!)
At its most basic level, Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of computers or machines to simulate human-like intelligence. This means they can perform tasks that typically require human thought, such as:
Learning from experience.
Understanding language.
Recognizing patterns.
Making decisions.
Solving problems.
Think of AI as a very advanced, very fast pattern-recognition system. It's programmed to analyze vast amounts of data, identify relationships, and then apply those learned patterns to new situations. It's not magic, it's complex algorithms and powerful computing, often built upon enormous datasets.
General AI vs. Narrow AI: Understanding the Scope
When people talk about AI, they're often imagining "General AI" (also known as Strong AI or Artificial General Intelligence - AGI).
General AI: This is the kind of AI you see in movies - a machine that can understand, learn, and apply intelligence across a wide range of tasks, just like a human. This type of AI does not currently exist.
Narrow AI: (also known as Weak AI or Artificial Narrow Intelligence - ANI): This is the AI we interact with every day. Narrow AI is designed and trained for a specific task or a limited set of tasks.
Examples of Narrow AI you already use:
Voice Assistants: Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa (understand voice commands to perform specific tasks).
Recommendation Systems: Netflix, Amazon (suggest movies/products based on your past behavior).
Spam Filters: Your email inbox (identify and block unwanted emails).
GPS Navigation: Google Maps, Waze (find optimal routes, predict traffic).
Large Language Models (LLMs): AI systems like ChatGPT or Google Gemini that generate human-like text are powerful examples of Narrow AI, specialized in understanding and creating language.
These systems are incredibly powerful within their defined scope, but they can't do anything beyond what they were designed for. Your GPS can't write a novel, and your spam filter can't diagnose a medical condition.
The Current State: Powerful Narrow AI
Today, when we talk about AI, we are almost always referring to Narrow AI. It's everywhere, making our lives easier, more efficient, and often more personalized. Understanding this distinction is key to setting realistic expectations and effectively using AI tools.
Practice Exercise
Think about your day. Can you identify two more examples of Narrow AI you've interacted with (besides the ones listed above)? Consider apps on your phone, features on websites, or even smart devices.
Fun Fact
One of the earliest examples of AI thinking was "Deep Blue," a chess-playing computer developed by IBM, which famously defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. Deep Blue was a highly specialized Narrow AI!
Learning Reinforcement Questions
What is the fundamental concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Machines with human feelings.
Computers simulating human-like intelligence.
Robots taking over the world.
Only self-driving cars.
What is the difference between General AI and Narrow AI?
Give an example of Narrow AI that you use in your daily life.
True or False: General AI (AGI) currently exists and is widely used.
Why is it important to understand the difference between General AI and Narrow AI?
Once you've given it a shot, you can find the <guidelines to answering these questions here> to check your understanding.
Next up
In our next lesson, Lesson 3: How AI Learns: The Magic of Machine Learning (ML), we will get to understand how AI systems learn to do the incredible things they do and why it is important in our learning journey. Stay curious!
Licensing, Attribution and Commercial use
© 2025 Nacha – AI Activation Hub, a division of Asset Thinking Ltd. All rights reserved.
For commercial licensing, partnerships, adaptations, integrations, usage within an organization or consulting inquiries, please contact the author via email: zack@nacha.life
We should have a dashboard o record the learning hours and the progress. It is so cool to learn from the scratch.
Hoping to coin an idea for my thesis here, feels refreshing learning from scratch