Narrow AI
Also called Weak AI, Artificial Narrow Intelligence, ANI
AI built to perform one task or a small set of tasks, such as translating text or recognising faces. Every AI system in use today is narrow.
What is narrow AI?
Narrow AI, also called weak AI, is an AI system designed for a specific task or a limited range of tasks. It can be excellent at that job, even better than people, but it cannot take its skills somewhere new.
How does it differ from general AI?
A narrow system, such as a spam filter or a route planner, does one kind of work. Artificial general intelligence would be able to learn and do most tasks a person can. Today's chatbots are broad in what they can discuss, but they are still classed as narrow because they are not general learners.
What is a simple example?
A chess engine can beat any human player but cannot book a flight. A translation app can convert a menu but cannot tell you whether the restaurant is any good.
Why does it matter?
Knowing that current AI is narrow sets realistic expectations: a tool that is strong in one area can still fail in another, so it should be judged on the task you actually need done.