What is AI? Is it different from machine learning?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term dating back to the 1950s, when it was defined as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.” When we talk about AI, we’re usually talking broadly about the concept of machines that can develop abilities usually associated with human intelligence, such as learning a language or spontaneously navigating a road when driving a car.

Machine learning refers to various methods for developing AI. Many computers function by being explicitly programmed to follow a specific series of instructions; machine learning, in contrast, attempts to train a computer to complete tasks or solve problems on its own. People have been working on this for decades. But only in recent years have computers been fast enough – and able to process large enough sets of information – to make more complex developments in machine learning possible.