Stanford
University
  • Stanford Home
  • Maps & Directions
  • Search Stanford
  • Emergency Info
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Trademarks
  • Non-Discrimination
  • Accessibility
© Stanford University.  Stanford, California 94305.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? | Stanford HAI
Skip to content
  • About

    • About
    • People
    • Get Involved with HAI
    • Support HAI
    • Subscribe to Email
  • Research

    • Research
    • Fellowship Programs
    • Grants
    • Student Affinity Groups
    • Centers & Labs
    • Research Publications
    • Research Partners
  • Education

    • Education
    • Executive and Professional Education
    • Government and Policymakers
    • K-12
    • Stanford Students
  • Policy

    • Policy
    • Policy Publications
    • Policymaker Education
    • Student Opportunities
  • AI Index

    • AI Index
    • AI Index Report
    • Global Vibrancy Tool
    • People
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • Centers & Labs

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term coined in 1955 by John McCarthy, Stanford's first faculty member in AI, who described it as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines." Today it is a broad term for computer systems that can perform tasks with human-like intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing images, learning from data, reasoning, and making decisions. Modern AI often works by finding patterns in large amounts of data and using those patterns to generate predictions or responses. It can be narrow (good at a specific task) or more general-purpose, like today’s large language models that can handle many tasks.

Navigate
  • About
  • Events
  • AI Glossary
  • Careers
  • Search
Participate
  • Get Involved
  • Support HAI
  • Contact Us

Stay Up To Date

Get the latest news, advances in research, policy work, and education program updates from HAI in your inbox weekly.

Sign Up For Latest News


Artificial Intelligence (AI) mentioned at Stanford HAI

Explore Similar Terms

Machine Learning (ML) | AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) | Deep Learning

See Full List of Terms & Definitions

Stanford HAI Launches AI and Organizations Lab to Study Science of AI in the Workplace
Shana Lynch
May 13
News

The new center will examine AI's real-world impacts on jobs, teams, and organizational performance.

Stanford HAI Launches AI and Organizations Lab to Study Science of AI in the Workplace

Shana Lynch
May 13

The new center will examine AI's real-world impacts on jobs, teams, and organizational performance.

Industry, Innovation
Workforce, Labor
News
Operationalizing Real-Time Monitoring of Clinical AI
Zhongnan Fang, Lina Cheuy, Hye Sun Na, Akshay Chaudhari, David B. Larson
Quick ReadMay 14
Policy Brief

This brief demonstrates how real-time monitoring can address critical gaps in the oversight of radiological AI tools.

Operationalizing Real-Time Monitoring of Clinical AI

Zhongnan Fang, Lina Cheuy, Hye Sun Na, Akshay Chaudhari, David B. Larson
Quick ReadMay 14

This brief demonstrates how real-time monitoring can address critical gaps in the oversight of radiological AI tools.

Healthcare
Regulation, Policy, Governance
Policy Brief
Researchers Worldwide Compete to Shape the Future of AI in Organizations
Nikki Goth Itoi
May 12
News

More than 200 academic teams submitted proposals to the AI for Organizations Grand Challenge, exploring how artificial intelligence will transform teamwork and collaboration.

Researchers Worldwide Compete to Shape the Future of AI in Organizations

Nikki Goth Itoi
May 12

More than 200 academic teams submitted proposals to the AI for Organizations Grand Challenge, exploring how artificial intelligence will transform teamwork and collaboration.

Workforce, Labor
Industry, Innovation
News
Data Privacy and Foundation Models: Can We Have Both?
Jennifer King, Tiffany Saade
Quick ReadApr 08
Issue Brief

This brief examines the privacy risks foundation models pose to individuals and society, and governance mechanisms needed to address them.

Data Privacy and Foundation Models: Can We Have Both?

Jennifer King, Tiffany Saade
Quick ReadApr 08

This brief examines the privacy risks foundation models pose to individuals and society, and governance mechanisms needed to address them.

Privacy, Safety, Security
Foundation Models
Regulation, Policy, Governance
Issue Brief
5 Questions for Russell Wald
Politico
May 08
Media Mention

HAI Executive Director Russell Wald talks about the AI competition between the U.S. and China, and the advent of “world models” that predict what might happen in real-world environments.

5 Questions for Russell Wald

Politico
May 08

HAI Executive Director Russell Wald talks about the AI competition between the U.S. and China, and the advent of “world models” that predict what might happen in real-world environments.

Regulation, Policy, Governance
Machine Learning
Computer Vision
Media Mention
How Can AI Support Language Digitization and Digital Inclusion?
Juan N. Pava, Thomas S. Mullaney, Caroline Meinhardt, Audrey Gao, Diyi Yang
Deep DiveFeb 26
White Paper

This white paper analyzes the varying ways AI tools can advance language digitization work, and provides recommendations for responsibly realizing the potential of AI in supporting the digital inclusion of digitally disadvantaged languages.

How Can AI Support Language Digitization and Digital Inclusion?

Juan N. Pava, Thomas S. Mullaney, Caroline Meinhardt, Audrey Gao, Diyi Yang
Deep DiveFeb 26

This white paper analyzes the varying ways AI tools can advance language digitization work, and provides recommendations for responsibly realizing the potential of AI in supporting the digital inclusion of digitally disadvantaged languages.

Ethics, Equity, Inclusion
International Affairs, International Security, International Development
Natural Language Processing
White Paper

Enroll in a Human-Centered AI Course

This HAI program covers technical fundamentals, business implications, and societal considerations.