Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Photo: Justin Sullivan ( Getty Images )

Lets start with the basics for a refresher. Generative artificial intelligence is a category of AI that uses data to create original content. In contrast, classic AI could only offer predictions based on data inputs, not brand new and unique answers using machine learning. But generative AI uses deep learning, a form of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks (software programs) resembling the human brain, so computers can perform human-like analysis.

Generative AI isnt grabbing answers out of thin air, though. Its generating answers based on data its trained on, which can include text, video, audio, and lines of code. Imagine, say, waking up from a coma, blindfolded, and all you can remember is 10 Wikipedia articles. All of your conversations with another person about what you know are based on those 10 Wikipedia articles. Its kind of like that except generative AI uses millions of such articles and a whole lot more.

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AI has a lot of terms. We've got a glossary for what you need to know - Quartz