Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science and technology that aims to create machines and software capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include learning from experience, understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, solving problems, making decisions, and adapting to new situations. AI can be categorized into several types, such as narrow AI, which is designed for specific tasks (like voice assistants 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 cognitive capabilities.

AI systems utilize various techniques including Machine Learning (where algorithms improve through training on data), neural networks (which are inspired by the human brain and can model complex relationships), and Deep Learning (a subset of Machine Learning that uses large datasets and layers of processing). AI has advanced significantly in recent years and is now being applied in various domains such as healthcare, finance, automotive (self-driving cars), and customer service (chatbots). The potential of AI is vast, and while it presents numerous opportunities for improving efficiency and creativity, it also raises ethical considerations regarding privacy, bias, and the future of employment.