How does artificial intelligence work?

Great question! Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as recognizing speech, understanding language, or making decisions. At its core, AI works by learning patterns from data and using those patterns to make predictions or take actions. One of the most common ways AI systems learn is through a process called **machine learning**. Instead of being explicitly programmed with rules, these systems are fed large amounts of data—for example, thousands of photos labeled “cat” or “dog.” The AI then analyzes this data to identify patterns and features that distinguish one category from another. Over time, it builds a mathematical model that can predict the label of new, unseen data. This learning process involves adjusting internal parameters to minimize errors, often using techniques like neural networks, which are inspired by how the human brain works. When it comes to making decisions, AI systems use the models they’ve learned to evaluate new inputs and choose the best possible output based on what they’ve seen before. For example, a recommendation system on a streaming service looks at your past viewing habits and compares them to others to suggest shows you might like. The key idea is that AI improves its performance by learning from experience—much like humans do—but it relies on data and algorithms rather than intuition. In summary, AI works by learning patterns from data using machine learning algorithms, then applying those patterns to make predictions or decisions. This ability to learn and adapt enables AI to handle complex tasks across many fields, from healthcare to self-driving cars.