Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to mimic human intelligence through problem-solving and decision-making. AI has many applications including expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition, computer vision, and robotics. While AI shows promise for helping humans, it also poses risks such as self-modifying systems leading to unexpected results and loss of control over advanced robots. Overall, AI research has increased our understanding of intelligence but also revealed its complexity, leaving opportunities for continued advancement.