Digital Transformation Blog | Paragon DCX

Generative AI – what you need to know and how it can help you

Written by Karl Schulenburg | Mar 4, 2024 9:57:23 AM

In the ever-evolving technology landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a driving force behind transformative innovations. Among the various branches of AI and machine learning (ML), Generative AI stands out as a powerful tool with the potential to reshape industries and drive unprecedented advancements.

I know I speak for many when I say that the thought of AI and its power is somewhat scary - especially when you have the likes of Gartner pointing out that AI is considered to be at peak hype right now. And, as it continues to change, it can be confusing to know what’s what, and to keep up! So, I’m going to touch on a few key areas I think might be useful…

Understanding the basics of AI

Artificial Intelligence, in its essence, refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks encompass a wide range, from problem-solving and speech recognition to learning and decision-making.

AI can be broadly categorised into narrow or weak AI, which is designed to perform a specific task, and general or strong AI, which possesses the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across diverse domains.

What is Generative AI?

Within the realm of AI, Generative AI is a captivating and promising area that focuses on machines’ ability to create content autonomously.

Traditional narrow AI focuses on specific tasks with limited scope, excelling in data analysis and pattern recognition without generalizing beyond its programming. Generative AI, however, can create new content, such as text or images, demonstrating a broader understanding and mimicking human creativity. This marks a leap from narrow AI's specific applications to generative AI's wider, more adaptable capabilities.

Notable examples of generative models include OpenAI's GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) series, which has demonstrated remarkable proficiency in tasks like language translation, content creation, and even code generation.