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The Four Types of Artificial Intelligence

What to know about the different levels of AI

By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 21, 2021 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart Home Your Best Year Ever: College Tech Tips Amazon Appliances & Lighting Google Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is increasingly becoming a part of our everyday lives, even if we don't always know it. Because it's already here and only going to become more critical in the future, it's essential to understand the four types of artificial intelligence, how they're distinct, and which ones are in use today.

Overview of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is measured in comparison to the functions of the human mind. A true, fully complete AI could replicate—and likely extend—a human brain's functions. It would be self-aware, have consciousness and memories, could learn and make predictions about likely future events—and would do these things on its own, without human intervention or input from programmers.

The Four Types of AI Reactive Machines

The first and most basic kind of AI is Reactive Machines. These machines have intelligence that exists almost entirely in the present moment (eat your hearts out, meditators!). Programmers build Reactive Machines around complex sets of rules. In addition to those rules, they may include neural networks that allow them to learn and adapt in the moment. Crucially, though, this type of AI can't form memories or act based on past experiences. Because they can't create memories, they can't take past occurrences, even those that happened to them, and use them to make new decisions. In this way, they're restricted to the scenarios and information covered in their sets of rules. Because of this limitation, one can trick Reactive Machines into being defeated by forcing them to operate outside their limited set of rules. Reactive Machines also don't have a concept of the future. They can use their rules to make extrapolations about what might come next, but only within the boundaries established by their rule sets. Because they can't change their future actions based on past occurrences, Reactive Machines can't learn. Examples: IBM Deep Blue (plays chess), IBM Watson (won at Jeopardy), Google AlphaGo (plays Go), recommendation engines like those found in streaming video and audio services Learn more about Reactive Machines AI

The Four Types of AI Limited Memory

This more-advanced AI type has the abilities of reactive machines but adds a concept of the past. While Limited Memory AIs aren't forming memories, they are aware of a recent past and can use the data captured at that time to influence their decisions. Self-driving cars are the best example here. They continuously monitor the conditions around them—what other vehicles are doing, where objects are, how pedestrians are moving, etc.—and holding that information in a temporary state to influence their actions. As you might imagine, Limited Memory AIs process tremendous amounts of data and make decisions very quickly. This AI level is called "Limited Memory" because these past experiences aren't stored permanently, and it can't use them for all future learning. Instead, these past experiences are saved for a short time while they're practical and then discarded. Examples: Self-driving cars Get an in-depth view of Limited Memory AI

The Four Types of AI Theory of Mind

With Theory of Mind AI, we get closer to the science-fiction ideal of artificial intelligence. This level of AI includes all of the aspects of Reactive Machines and Limited Memory. But it adds a crucial and complex bit of understanding: that living objects (people, animals, etc.) around them have a thing called a "mind." Once an AI understands that other creatures have minds, it can then understand that it should learn and adjust its decisions based on those minds. It then understands minds generate thoughts and emotions (even if it doesn't truly understand what those things are yet) and that thoughts and emotions will influence behavior. The AI has to use those factors in its decision-making framework. Examples: There are no known examples of Theory of Mind AI in existence (though some robots that attempt to understand and simulate point a direction for this type) Learn more about Theory of Mind AI

The Four Types of AI Self Aware

Self-Aware AI is the final and most complex, and mature level of AI. It's a genuinely self-aware intelligence. Any AI from science fiction falls into this category. It's an entity with true consciousness. It's aware of its existence and its internal states (and potentially emotions), can form memories of the past, and make predictions. It's aware of other consciousnesses and can take them into account when making decisions. Crucially, it can learn and become more intelligent based on its experiences. A Self-Aware AI would require extremely flexible programming logic, an ability to update its logic on its own, and a tolerance for inconsistency since human behavior isn't always neatly predictable or rigidly patterned. Examples: Self Aware AI doesn't exist currently and is likely many years away from being achieved Learn more about Self Aware AI

The Four Types of AI Compared

The four key types of AI, and their key characteristics, are listed below for easy reference and comparison. AI Type Follows
Rules Can Learn Has Memories Knows Other Minds Exist Aware of Emotion True AI Reactive Machines Limited Memory limited Theory of Mind Self Aware

Should We Worry About AI

Anyone passing familiar with science fiction about AIs knows that things often go wrong for humans once a machine achieves consciousness (hello, Skynet). So, should we be worried about AI? There's no single answer to this question, but it's a good idea to be thoughtful and careful about how we go about creating and using fully self-aware AI. There's the doomsday scenario of AIs replacing humans—whether that means taking human jobs and leaving people without work or income or the darker Terminator-style storyline. There are also ethical concerns: Is it acceptable to create a consciousness that can think and feel and then force it to do our bidding? Some ethicists study AI and write about these questions. As AI becomes more advanced and more widespread, we'll need to make sure we listen to them, and our laws and governments adapt to the unique challenges—and possibilities—created by AI. What Is a Neural Network? Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How AI Can Help Solve Climate Change 5 Ways AI Can Make Your Home Happy What Is Artificial Intelligence? Mobile Technology: AI in Phones Artificial Intelligence vs. Machine Learning The 8 Best Driverless Car Manufacturers of 2022 What Is a Neural Network? Your Next Flight Might Be More On-Time Thanks to AI Rise of the Home Robot Schools May Be Using AI to Keep Tabs on Students—Here's Why What Are Autonomous Cars? No, Google’s AI Isn’t Self-Aware, Experts Say Conversations With Your Computer May Get More Realistic Meta’s Supercomputer Will Bring the Metaverse to Life AI Can Now Understand Your Videos By Watching Them Your Next Favorite Actor May Be Powered By Artificial Intelligence—Here's Why Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies