AI Terminology: Coming to Terms with Machine Learning

• So-called artificial intelligence based on machine learning is rapidly gaining popularity, and several new terms are used to describe its implementation and operation.
• Knowledge of the terms will help IT staff, developers, business stakeholders, and end users discuss, plan, and navigate artificial intelligence offerings.
• Some terms are industrywide, and others are company specific.

Artificial intelligence (AI) terms have quickly become part of common vernacular. For example, ChatGPT is highly discussed even though many people are unlikely to know an accurate definition of it.

Terms by Category

AI terms can be approached by subdividing them into industrywide, OpenAI, and Microsoft-specific categories.

Industrywide Terms

Several terms are used to describe AI technologies, many of which were defined decades ago.

Artificial intelligence (AI). AI research has been under way for decades, and a precise definition of the term is elusive. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a more specific term defined as a construct that can substitute for humans, accomplishing all tasks in an equivalent or superior manner. AI is now accepted as a label for a broad landscape of technologies that appear to produce more effective analytical results than those of previous generations. Certain problems may require AI to solve initially, but after a solution is obtained, AI is no longer required to solve the problem subsequently; for example, determining the optimal way to implement a complex manufacturing process.