What is AI

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is a type of technology that allows computers and machines to do tasks that normally require human intelligence. This includes understanding language, answering questions, recognising images, giving recommendations, and helping people make decisions.

At the centre of AI are AI models. An AI model is like a “digital brain” that has learned from huge amounts of information, from text, images, audio, and more. By learning from patterns in this information, the model can:

understand what you type,
respond to questions,
translate languages,
summarise information,
or help generate ideas.

AI models are powerful, but they are also becoming very simple for everyday people to use. You do not need technical knowledge or special training. If you can type a message, you can use AI. Today, many AI tools are built on large AI models that are designed to be easy for everyday people to use. Some well-known examples include ChatGPT, LLaMA or DeepSeek. These are just examples. New AI models are being developed all the time, and many tools use a combination of different models behind the scenes.

AI Has Been Around for a Long Time

AI may feel new, but it has actually existed for many years. It has been quietly working in the background of everyday technology long before tools like ChatGPT became popular. Many people have already been using AI without realising it.

For example, AI is used in:

Google Search - to rank results and suggest answers
Google Maps - to suggest faster routes and avoid traffic
YouTube, Netflix, Spotify - to recommend videos, films, and music
Email services - to filter spam and suggest replies
Smartphones - for face unlock, voice assistants, and photo improvement

These systems use AI to recognise patterns, make predictions, and support decisions.

What is different today is that AI tools are now visible and interactive. Instead of working silently in the background, you can now talk to AI directly, ask questions, and get answers in real time.

How AI Works