Artificial Intelligence (Part 2)

Types of AI

Welcome to Part 2 of AI. If you haven’t gone through the Part 1 of AI click here Part-1. In the last post we just saw the various types of AI. Here we can discuss that in detail.

Types of AI (Based on Ability)

• Narrow AI or Weak AI
• General or Strong AI
• Super AI

Weak AI – Also known as Narrow AI is the Artificial Intelligence that exists in our world today. Narrow AI is programmed to perform a single task. They are confined to a set of rules that we provide and they give response to those rules within that domain.

Examples – Devices like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Self Driving cars and Google Assistant. Almost all the AI based systems built till this date fall under the category of Weak Artificial Intelligence.

Strong AI – Also known as General AI is the stage wherein machines will possess the ability to think and make decisions just like humans. Jarvis in Iron man can be taken as a example of Strong AI. But is it possible to create such one?

There are currently no existing examples of Strong AI. However, it is believed that we will soon be able to create machines that are as smart as humans.

To reach Strong AI level, computer hardware needs to increase their computational power to perform more total calculations per second (cps).  The human brain is estimated to be capable of one exaflop (a billion billion cps). After looking at this mind blowing number, it is indeed we have a long way to go.

Strong AI is considered a threat to human existence by many scientists, including Stephen Hawking.

Super AI – Artificial Super Intelligence is the stage of AI when the capability of computers will surpass human beings. It is currently a hypothetical situation as depicted in movies and science fiction books, where machines have taken over the world and enslaving the humans.

Researchers have argued that, by way of an intelligence explosion, a self-improving AI could become so powerful as to be unstoppable by humans.

Types of AI (Based on Functionality):

• Reactive Machines
• Limited Memory
• Theory of Mind
• Self – Awareness

Reactive Machines – They are the most basic types of AI. Such AI systems do not store memories or past experiences for future actions. These machines only focus on current scenarios and react on it as per possible best action.  Reactive AI machines cannot form inferences from the data to evaluate their future actions. 

Examples – IBM’s Deep Blue system and Google’s Alpha Go.

Limited Memory – Limited memory machines can store past experiences or some data for a short period of time. These machines can use stored data for a limited time period only. Such an AI has a short-lived or a temporary memory that can be used to store past experiences and hence evaluate future actions.

Examples – Self driving cars. They use sensors to identify civilians crossing the road, traffic signals etc to make better driving decisions. This helps to avoid future accidents.

Theory of Mind – Theory of Mind AI are capable of understanding the human emotions, people, beliefs and be able to interact socially like humans.

Examples – This type of AI machines are still not developed, but rigorous research is happening in this area.

Self Awareness – Self-awareness AI is the future of Artificial Intelligence. These machines will be super intelligent and will have their own consciousness, sentiments, and self awareness. They will be much more smarter than the human mind.

Examples – This type does not exist in reality still and it is a hypothetical concept.

AI Types based on various applications

Thanks for reading. Do read the further posts on AI. Please feel free to connect with me if you have any doubts. Do follow, support, like and subscribe this blog.

Fact of the day:

Most AI bots are Female. If you ask Siri, Alexa, Cortana or your bank’s Voice assistance a question, most likely, you will be answered by a pleasant and polite woman’s voice. Do you know the reason?

Studies show that males and females are more attracted to a woman’s voice. Are you?

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