Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the branch of computer science that focuses on creating systems or machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include problem-solving, understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, learning from experience, and making decisions.

AI systems can be categorized into two main types: narrow AI and general AI. Narrow AI, also known as weak AI, is designed to handle specific tasks, such as voice recognition, image analysis, or recommendation systems. In contrast, general AI, or strong AI, aims to replicate human cognitive abilities across a wide range of tasks, although it remains largely theoretical at this stage.

AI technologies employ various techniques, including machine learning, where algorithms learn from data to improve their performance over time, and deep learning, which utilizes neural networks with many layers to analyze data inputs on a more complex level.

AI applications are widespread and impact numerous fields, such as healthcare, finance, automotive, and entertainment, driving innovations like autonomous vehicles, personalized medicine, and virtual assistants. The development and implementation of AI raise important ethical considerations, such as biases in data, privacy concerns, and the implications of automation on employment.