There are a few key terms that are very important to know and understand when it comes to artificial intelligence:
What is AI?
The term AI stands for artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that aims to create intelligent machines and has become an essential part of the technology industry today. Research associated with artificial intelligence is highly technical and specialized. The core problems of artificial intelligence include programming computers for certain traits such as knowledge, reasoning, problem solving, perception, learning, planning, and the ability to manipulate and move objects. There are two types of AI called "strong AI" and "weak AI." "Strong AI" (or "hard AI") is a form of artificial intelligence that can truly reason and solve problems and is said to be self-aware and exhibits human-like thought processes. "Weak AI" (or "soft AI") refers to the use of software to accomplish specific problem solving or reasoning tasks that do not encompass the full range of human cognitive abilities.
What is intelligence?
The dictionary defines intelligence as “the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria.” Alan Turing came up with a different definition for intelligence, specifically regarding AI. According to Turing, “A computer would deserve to be called intelligent if it could deceive a human into believing that it was human." In order to test AI on its intelligence, Alan created the Turing Test wherein a human judge engages in a conversation with a human and a machine separately. If the judge cannot tell the machine and the human apart, the machine has passed the test and is said to be “intelligent.”
What is singularity?
There is a theory about artificial intelligence known as The Technologic Singularity Hypothesis. This prediction states that accelerating progress in technology will lead to artificial intelligence exceeding human intellectual capacity and control. Artificial intelligence will have access to its own design and will be able to improve itself in an increasingly rapid redesign cycle. We’ll get to a point where technical progress will be so fast that human intelligence will be unable to follow it. This will inevitably lead to a drastic change, or even an ending to civilization in an event called singularity. As author and mathematician Vernor Vinge put it in his 1993 essay The Coming Technological Singularity, "Within 30 years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended"