You’ve probably heard a lot about artificial intelligence (AI), but it’s not just something out of science fiction. For most of us, AI is already an integral part of our daily lives. It helps your phone recognize your voice, powers the recommendations you see on Netflix or YouTube, and even assists in diagnosing illnesses in hospitals. AI is built into navigation apps, smart home devices, customer service chatbots, and search engines. It’s working behind the scenes in banks, airports, and weather forecasting—and even guiding robots on Mars.
Because it’s become so woven into the technologies we use every day, it’s easy to overlook just how much AI is shaping our world. If you’re curious about what AI really is, what it can do, and what it might mean for the future, here’s a quick overview to get you started:
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is all about getting computers to do things that usually require a human mind, like solving problems, recognizing images, or planning actions. Some of these tasks, like reasoning, are clearly “intelligent,” while others, like seeing or moving, are just everyday human abilities. Regardless of the task, they are meant to help us reach a goal of some kind.
AI encompasses a wide range of technologies and methods, but here are five major types of AI systems:
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Classical (or Symbolic) AI, often called “Good Old-Fashioned AI” or GOFAI, uses logic and rules to make decisions. This is the one we most likely think of.
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Neural networks, inspired by the human brain, are good at learning from patterns and recognizing images or sounds
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Evolutionary programming, which mimics the process of natural selection to improve performance over time
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Cellular automata and dynamical systems, which are useful for modeling growth and change in living organisms
AI has two main goals: one is practical—using computers to perform useful tasks; the other is scientific—helping us understand how the human brain and mind work. Thanks to AI, researchers in psychology, neuroscience, and biology have made major advances in modeling how we think, how animals behave, and what life itself might be.
AI also plays a big role in modern philosophy. It raises tough questions about the nature of consciousness, free will, and whether a machine could ever truly think or feel. Some people are excited about the future of AI, but others worry that it could replace humans entirely, and what that might mean for our place in the world.
How Artificial Intelligence Got Its Start
Ada Lovelace
The idea behind artificial intelligence goes back farther than you might expect—to the 1840s. Ada Lovelace, a brilliant mathematician and writer, is often credited with imagining some of the earliest possibilities for AI. Working alongside inventor Charles Babbage, she envisioned that his invention, the Analytical Engine, could go beyond math and help advance science.
Lovelace believed that machines could be used to process symbols and logic in complex ways, allowing them to model ideas from across the natural world. She even imagined that a machine could compose original pieces of music.
Alan Turing
Our modern understanding of artificial intelligence began with Alan Turing's work in the 1930s and 1940s. Turing was a mathematician who proved that any problem that a computer can solve could be broken down into simple binary steps, using only 0s and 1s. After helping break enemy codes during World War II, he turned his attention to designing machines that could think and learn like people.
Turing believed AI should have two goals: to build machines that can perform intelligent tasks, and to help us understand how the human mind works. In 1950, he introduced the famous Turing Test—a way to judge if a computer can imitate human conversation well enough to fool someone. His seminal paper, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," helped launch the field of AI, even though the technology of the time was still very limited.
Understanding AI Ethics: Why It Matters
As artificial intelligence becomes more common in our lives, it's important to think about how this powerful technology should be used. That’s where ethics comes in. AI ethics is a set of moral guidelines that help ensure AI is developed and used in ways that are fair, safe, and respectful to people and the planet.
While there’s no single global rulebook for AI yet, many companies and governments are starting to build their own codes of conduct. Many of these usually focus on avoiding bias, protecting personal privacy, and reducing environmental harm. For example, tech companies like Google and IBM have created teams to study how their AI tools impact society, while organizations like the United Nations are working on international agreements about ethical AI use.
Who’s involved in shaping AI ethics?
Many different groups play a role in building and enforcing ethical guidelines for AI:
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Academics develop research that shapes ethical policy and design.
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Governments write reports and regulations, like the U.S.’s 2016 Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence.
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International organizations such as UNESCO create global agreements, like the 2021 Ethics of AI declaration.
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Nonprofits such as Black in AI advocate for underrepresented voices in technology.
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Private companies form ethics teams and set internal standards.
Why does it matter?
Because AI is meant to do things people usually do (i.e., write, speak, analyze, and make decisions), it can also repeat or amplify the same problems people have, like bias or discrimination. For example, an AI system trained on biased hiring data might unfairly reject women or minority applicants. Many AI models are trained on the intellectual property of artists and writers without permission, credit, or compensation, raising concerns about widespread copyright infringement.
AI can also raise questions about privacy and consent. Many systems learn from huge amounts of online data, but users often don’t know how their personal information is being used. Also, artificial intelligence models depend on massive data centers that use vast amounts of energy, raising concerns about their environmental impact.
What can we do?
Creating more ethical AI means looking at the bigger picture—policy, education, design, and accountability. Governments are beginning to step in with regulations, and developers are working on tools that help detect fake or unethical content online. But it’s not just up to the experts—anyone who uses AI should be aware of how it works, what risks it might carry, and how we can build a future where people and machines coexist responsibly.
Gale Presents: Udemy
If you’re curious to learn more about how AI works—and how to use it ethically—we have a resource that is a great place to start: Gale Presents: Udemy. This online learning platform offers thousands of video-based courses taught by industry experts, including beginner-friendly and advanced classes in generative AI, language models, machine learning, Python programming, and ethical AI development.
Whether you are interested in exploring how AI is built, understanding how it’s shaping the workplace, or want to learn how to use AI to enhance your productivity, there’s a course for you. Best of all, it’s free with your library card! Check out the full course list here.
How to access:
- Visit our library’s sign-up page: www.ccplohio.org/resource/ gale-presents-udemy
- If accessing from outside the library, enter your library card barcode number when prompted.
- Click the orange button to sign in with your Google or Microsoft account, or create a Gale user account.
- If creating a Gale user account, be sure to use a valid email address.
- Browse the course offerings and enroll!
Want to learn more? Check out our book list!
Artificial intelligence is no longer just science fiction—it's shaping our lives in real time. Whether you're intrigued by how AI works, concerned about its impact on society, or curious about how to stay relevant in an increasingly automated world, this book list is for you. Explore accessible guides, ethical deep-dives, and big-picture visions of our shared human and machine future. Perfect for readers who want to understand the promise—and the pitfalls—of our high-tech age.
Very Short Introductions
Much of the content in this blog was cited from Artificial Intelligence: A Very Short Introduction by Margaret A. Boden, available through our Very Short Introductions database. This compact yet insightful book breaks down the history, types, and ethical questions surrounding AI in a way that’s clear, engaging, and easy to follow—no computer science degree required. If you're curious to explore AI without diving into heavy technical jargon, this is a great place to start. Check it out through the library today!
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