Who am Al, really?

There's a lot we're getting wrong about artificial intelligence, including what is and isn’t AI. See what you've been misstating, terms you need to know, and new ones on the horizon

- Vishal Mathur

We're all talking about AI. How could we not? In coffee shops, boardrooms and group chats, the subject serves as conversation-starter, icebreaker and idle chatter.

But are we doing it right? We're using terms interchangeably, when they mean very different things. Mixing up our tech. We're even using the phrase “AI” wrong. What are the most common mistakes? Take a look.

What is and isn’t AI?

Any technology that is at least as smart as the average human, and can therefore perform tasks a human would generally be required for —such as data-analysis, script-writing or creating new protein structures — is considered artificial intelligence.

There is a fair amount of confusion over what isn’t AI, and much of this stems from today’s high levels of “personalisation”.

When a platform responds to our usage and preferences, we tend to assume some amount of AI is involved, but there's really no need for Al at this level of functionality.

Even when Netflix responds to “your viewing history” or a bot player “learns your moves" in a videogame, it is just programs matching input with output—the way an ATM or a currency converter might do.

Where do chatbots fit in?