Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines designed to think, learn, and perform tasks that typically require human cognitive functions. These tasks include problem-solving, understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, making decisions, and adapting to new information. AI can be categorized into two main types: narrow AI, which is designed for specific tasks like voice recognition or recommendation systems, and general AI, which would possess the ability to understand, learn, and apply intelligence across a wide range of tasks, similar to human intelligence.

AI technologies use a variety of techniques, including Machine Learning, where algorithms analyze data and improve their performance over time, and Deep Learning, which employs neural networks to process complex data patterns. AI is applied in numerous fields such as healthcare for diagnostic tools, finance for fraud detection, transportation for autonomous vehicles, and customer service through chatbots. As AI advances, ethical considerations regarding job displacement, privacy, and decision-making bias have become increasingly important in discussions about its future role in society.