What is Generative AI?

What is it?

The term artificial intelligence is used frequently in modern society and it’s important that we understand what generative AI is, how it can be used and what the strengths and limitations of this system are. Before using AI, it is recommended that you make yourself aware of the policies and ethics involved with using AI within your Learning and Teaching (web).

How does a generative AI work?

Generative AI uses an element called ‘machine learning’ to generate content of various elements based on the requirements set by the user. These AI systems work by drawing from large data sets and use large language models to analysing the data to find patterns and common arrangements of information which it can then use predictions to feed back to you based on the prompt you provided.

Generative AI is still developing and each day there are more tools that integrate AI appearing. Most systems build in a simple user interface to make it easy to generate and interact with the AI.

Glossary

This section contains some keywords related to generative AI. We have gathered them below and given definitions for each word.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Software that enables machines to complete tasks that imitate intelligent behaviour.

Machine Learning – Computers take information from available data, enabling them to develop and adapt based on patterns and data.

Large Language Model – Enables computers to recognise, understand and process our languages.

Generative AI – A machine that uses AI to generate content, which includes a variety of outputs such as images, text, videos etc. in response to human requirements based off a prompt.

Prompt – The question or information that is given to the AI by the human to highlight and inform what they want it to produce.