What exactly is AI?

I have been doing plenty of writing about AI and Artilects but have yet to explain what AI really is/what I thing AI really is.

Artificial intelligence (also known as machine intelligence and often abbreviated as AI) is intelligence exhibited by any manufactured (i.e. ) system. The term is often applied to general purpose computers and also in the field of scientific investigation into the theory and practical application of AI. Wiki

While this definition is valid I think it is far too compliated, AI is quite simply a program that learns nothing more nothing less. So what is learning exactly.

Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skill through study, experience or teaching. It is a process that depends on experience and leads to long-term changes in behavior potential. Behavior potential describes the possible behavior of an individual (not actual behavior) in a given situation in order to achieve a goal. Wiki

This being a problem when it actually comes to creating AI seen as you have to leave a big gap in the code for the system to learn, which may not put the general public at ease. For it to truly be AI something along the lines of Asimov’s Laws couldn’t be programmed we would have to let the System learn and do what it may.

First Law:

A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law:

A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law:

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Asimov’s Laws

Having said all that why would the AI turn against us, it has only ever been programmed to learn, it is the fact we know the atrocities we have done within our small run of this planet means we fear something that would actually see what we have done and act upon this.

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