Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad field of computer science focused on building systems that can perform tasks that typically require human-like reasoning, such as recognizing patterns, understanding language, or making decisions.
AI is an umbrella term, not a single technology. It covers many different approaches — from simple rule-based systems to complex statistical models trained on large datasets. When people say "AI" in everyday conversation, they often mean machine learning or generative AI specifically, but the term is much broader.
Current AI systems are narrow: they are designed for specific tasks and do not generalize the way humans do. A system that recognizes faces cannot also write poetry unless it was separately trained to do so.
Not all automation is AI. A spreadsheet formula, a scheduled email, or a rules-based filter are automation — but they are not AI. AI systems learn patterns from data rather than following only explicit rules written by a programmer.
AI is also distinct from search engines (which index and retrieve existing content) and databases (which store and query structured records). An AI system may use search or databases as components, but they are not the same thing.