Emergent Behavior
Emergent behavior refers to capabilities that appear in large AI models that were not explicitly trained for or predicted. Examples include in-context learning and chain-of-thought reasoning in large language models.
Understanding Emergent Behavior
Emergent behavior in AI refers to capabilities or patterns that arise in large models without being explicitly programmed or trained for, often appearing only when models reach a certain scale. For instance, large language models trained solely on next-token prediction have demonstrated surprising abilities in arithmetic, code generation, and chain-of-thought reasoning that were not present in smaller versions. These emergent properties are closely tied to scaling laws, which describe how model performance improves with increased parameters, data, and compute. Studying emergent behavior is crucial for understanding the true capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence systems. It also raises safety concerns, as unexpected behaviors can be difficult to predict and control, making benchmark evaluation and responsible AI frameworks essential for monitoring what large generative models can actually do.
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Fundamentals
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AGI
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) refers to a hypothetical AI system with human-level cognitive abilities across all intellectual tasks. Unlike narrow AI, AGI would be able to learn, reason, and solve problems in any domain without task-specific training.
AI Winter
An AI winter is a period of reduced funding, interest, and research progress in artificial intelligence. Historical AI winters occurred in the 1970s and late 1980s, often following inflated expectations and undelivered promises.
Algorithm
An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or set of rules for solving a computational problem. In AI, algorithms define how models learn from data, make predictions, and optimize their performance.
Artificial General Intelligence
Artificial General Intelligence is a theoretical form of AI that would match or exceed human cognitive abilities across all domains. AGI remains an aspirational goal rather than a current reality in AI research.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is the broad field of computer science focused on creating systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence. AI encompasses machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.
Artificial Narrow Intelligence
Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) refers to AI systems designed to perform specific tasks, such as image recognition or language translation. All current AI systems, including large language models, are forms of narrow intelligence.
Artificial Superintelligence
Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) is a hypothetical AI that would surpass human intelligence in every cognitive dimension. The prospect of ASI raises profound questions about control, alignment, and the future of humanity.
Dynamic Programming
Dynamic programming is an algorithmic technique that solves complex problems by breaking them into simpler overlapping subproblems. It is used in reinforcement learning, sequence alignment, and optimal control.