Artificial intelligence (AI) is the field of computer science focused on creating intelligent machines, rooted in early concepts from Greek mythology and formalized by Alan Turing in the mid-20th century. It encompasses various traits such as reasoning, learning, and natural language processing, and employs diverse approaches and tools across numerous applications, including medical diagnosis and video gaming. The document also highlights the societal implications and future predictions related to AI, making it a significant area of research and debate.