Artificial intelligence

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems or models designed to perform tasks that would ordinarily require intelligence, such as recognising patterns, interpreting language, making predictions, generating content, supporting decisions or acting with a degree of autonomy.

The term AI can be used to generically describe both the technologies used to create a ‘smart’ machine and the properties of a system with characteristics we would recognise as human including the ability to recognise visual images, interpret speech, to learn by example and to make decisions based on a range of different information. In principle, many tasks currently performed by humans may be capable of being automated or supported by AI technology, although the suitability of AI will depend on the task, data quality, risk profile, legal constraints and the need for human oversight.

In its guide to using AI in the public sector, the government defined AI as:

‘the use of digital technology to create systems capable of performing tasks commonly thought to require intelligence.’

The guidance mostly discusses machine learning, a subset of AI referring to digital systems that improve their performance