What is AI – and Why is Everyone Talking About It?
AI, or artificial intelligence, is no longer science fiction. It’s a real force already transforming how businesses operate, how we make decisions – and how we code the future.
But what is AI really? What does it mean in practice, and why is it such a big deal?
Definition: What is AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad term for technologies that enable machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. This can include:
- Understanding natural language (e.g. reading or writing text)
- Identifying patterns in data
- Interpreting images and video
- Making decisions or providing recommendations
AI systems can either follow predefined rules (rule-based systems) or learn from data (machine learning), which makes them flexible, self-learning, and scalable.
A Brief History of AI
AI has existed as a concept since the 1950s, but it’s only in the past 10–15 years – thanks to increased computing power, access to large datasets, and new algorithms – that the technology has truly accelerated.
From voice assistants and self-driving cars to ChatGPT and Copilot – AI has entered our everyday lives.
How Does AI Work?
At its core, AI relies on three components:
- Data – information the algorithm learns from
- Model – a mathematical system that interprets data
- Training – the process by which the model improves by analyzing examples
For example, to build an AI system that can recognize apples, you’d need:
- Lots of images of apples
- A model trained on those images
- A way to measure how well the model performs – and adjust accordingly
Types of AI
AI is a broad field, but the most common categories are:
- Rule-based AI: Simple systems that follow fixed rules
- Machine Learning (ML): Systems that learn from data
- Deep Learning: A type of ML using neural networks
- Generative AI: AI that can create new content, like text, images, and code
Want to dive deeper into machine learning? Check out What is Machine Learning? →
AI at Softhouse
We work with AI every day – not as a buzzword, but as a tool to solve real problems. This can include anything from automating image recognition to predicting power grid outages. Learn more by downloading our “AI in 5 Minutes” – a quick guide to help you understand the potential, opportunities, and path forward.
For us, AI is part of our mission to code the future – with business value, simplicity, and cutting-edge tech.
👉 Next in the series: What is Machine Learning?
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Want to learn more about AI? Download our “AI in 5 Minutes” – a quick guide to help you understand the potential, opportunities, and the way forward.
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