Skip to Main Content

Generative AI

A libguide on Generative AI models

What is Generative AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI), at its most basic definition, can be described as any technology or machine that can perform complex tasks that are typically associated with needing human intelligence to perform. 

AI is an ever changing and growing field and this definition may change/ develop over time.

According to NASA:

There is no single, simple definition of artificial intelligence because AI tools are capable of a wide range of tasks and outputs, but NASA follows the definition of AI found within EO 13960, which references Section 238(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019. 

  • Any artificial system that performs tasks under varying and unpredictable circumstances without significant human oversight, or that can learn from experience and improve performance when exposed to data sets. 
  • An artificial system developed in computer software, physical hardware, or other context that solves tasks requiring human-like perception, cognition, planning, learning, communication, or physical action. 
  • An artificial system designed to think or act like a human, including cognitive architectures and neural networks. 
  • A set of techniques, including machine learning that is designed to approximate a cognitive task. 
  • An artificial system designed to act rationally, including an intelligent software agent or embodied robot that achieves goals using perception, planning, reasoning, learning, communicating, decision-making, and acting. 
    •  May, K. (2024, May 13). What is Artificial Intelligence? NASA.gov. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.nasa.gov/what-is-artificial-intelligence/

Types of AI

According to the University of Notre Dame there are "three main types of AI presented in this overview are artificial narrow intelligence, artificial general intelligence, and generative artificial intelligence.

  • Artificial narrow intelligence (ANI), which may also be referred to as weak AI or narrow AI, performs specific, but often complicated, tasks such as analyzing large data sets, making predictions, or identifying patterns.
  • Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is the ability for technologies/machines to demonstrate broad human-level intelligence. This includes the ability to learn and apply its intelligence to solve problems.
  • Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a set of algorithms that can create/generate seemingly new, realistic content—such as text, images, and audio—from a set of training data."
    • University of Notre Dame (n.d.). AI Overview and Definitions. Notre Dame Learning. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://learning.nd.edu/resource-library/ai-overview-and-definitions/

Jump to:

Help me:

If you have suggestions for how to make this page better, please contact Elizabeth Jerow, Library Director (jerow@msoe.edu).