Artificial Intelligence is no longer a foreign concept. AI first found its way into our everyday life with voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. With ChatGPT at the latest, however, it is now widely known. But AI systems haven't just been around since yesterday - and they are constantly evolving. We introduce you to the four different types of Artificial Intelligence, where our world currently stands and how the development could continue in the future.
Artificial Intelligence can be divided into four different types based on different capabilities or technological approaches. Depending on the stage of development, an AI system can be assigned to one of these types. The ability to perceive the world, self-awareness, memory of past experiences and the ability to improve based on learning are fundamental to the classification into types. Depending on the degree of these aspects, AI can be classified as weak or strong. Currently, only technologies based on the first two types of AI exist. However, types three and four are expected to become reality sooner or later in the future.
The simplest and weakest form is reactive AI. As the name suggests, this type of AI reacts to its environment. Specifically, it is about performing a certain task based on information. Technologies with reactive AI have no memory or understanding of the context and are therefore unable to gather or draw on experience. This type of AI therefore produces predictable results based on the input. An example of this is the chess computer from 1997, which plans its chess moves by calculation. You can read more about the history of AI here.
The next highest form is AI with limited memory capacity. It currently represents the most widespread form of AI. This type differs from reactive AI in its ability to gather experience and make decisions based on it. This AI can absorb new information and develop further based on what it has learned. Technologies with this form of AI therefore have a kind of memory. With the help of machine learning, the AI is fed data from which it can develop further data and procedures. However, there is also a limitation with this form, as it can only access limited information. In this context, however, "limited storage capacity" may be misleading, as the AI can still absorb a huge amount of data and train and update itself independently. Self-driving cars, chatbots and the robobrain® technology for AI-based robotic processes are examples of this form of AI. Find out more about the robobrain® AI and its benefits here.
The third type of AI is the theory of mind. This form is characterized by the ability to make human-like decisions and to perceive and understand emotions. Machines with this type of AI will be able to adapt their behavior to emotions and will have a memory and an idea of our world. They will not only understand emotions, but also the actions of humans. Technologies with the theory of mind will then be able to behave like humans in social interactions.
The last type is the highest and therefore also the strongest form of AI. This AI has the ability to be self-aware and is therefore aware of its existence. In this form, the AI switches from "I think" to "I know that I think". This type of AI can therefore not only think, but is also aware that it is thinking. This form can perceive and react to itself, the world, and its own and others' emotions, intentions and reactions. It is even capable of predicting feelings and drawing conclusions. As a result, a machine would ultimately possess human intelligence, which would enable it to perform tasks in everyday life at least as well as, if not better than humans. With this type of AI, we can also speak of a complete replica of a human being that is super-intelligent and sentient. So far, however, we are only familiar with AI with self-awareness from science fiction films in which worlds controlled by robots are shown.
Our world is currently in the second stage of development, an AI with limited memory capacity. AI can learn and develop further on the basis of what it has learned. In view of the rapid developments in this area, it is only a matter of time before the next stage is reached and AI is able to perceive emotions or even develop its own consciousness. But what could our future look like then? Self-driving cars, robots in care or in surgery already exist, but are not yet reliably operational. But with the help of emotions and consciousness, this could be possible. The major goal of further development is to create an AI with a human-like mind. However, a number of technical innovations will still be required along the way.
