Artificial Intelligence is a field that is going to expand rapidly in the coming decades.
We (humans) have made tremendous strides in the development of Artificial Intelligence technology ever since Computers became mainstream back in the 1970s.
According to AI scholars, an AI is defined as “A sense of intelligence exhibited by Machines”.
Personally, we are all surrounded by AI in today’s heavily interconnected world, whether it’s Apple’s Siri, Google Now or Microsoft’s Cortana, AI is spreading its wings everywhere.
There are three broad categorizations of Artificial Intelligence:
1) Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)
2) Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
3) Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)
The three broad classifications are classified according to the ability of that particular AI.
Generally speaking, Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) can only perform intelligent tasks that are in a narrow range of human capability.
Examples of Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) can be Voice-recognition software like Siri, Cortana etc.
These have limited capability and cannot stray from their pre-defined roles by much.
Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) is also called Weak AI, for its inability to part into different circumstances and limited operational roles.
Commentators rarely think that weak AI could ever be dangerous.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a step above the Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) systems.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) consists of more sentient systems that have an overall better sense of understanding and the ability to solve human level problems.
Additionally, Wikipedia defines AGI as follows: “Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is the intelligence of a machine that could successfully perform any intellectual task that a human being can.”
It is a primary goal of artificial intelligence research and a common topic in science fiction and futurism.
Most Futurism commentators generally incorporate AGI in their statements and vision for the future; big technology corporations like Google, Facebook and Apple are busy developing the next big AGI.
Currently, there is no AGI system in existence.
Finally, Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) is the advanced form of Artificial Intelligence that Humans can ever invent.
Since, beyond that, we Humans ourselves will not be able to comprehend the state of the Machine.
Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) will have immense capabilities that far dwarfs human capabilities.
Even our best minds today, including Scientists, Engineers etc. will be completely dwarfed by the Smartness of the Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) System.
But don’t worry, that day is not coming anytime soon.
Overall, AI is one of the most exciting developments of the 21st century and its impact and influence on the human civilization is only going to increase.
