Generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence, often called generative AI or GenAI, is a part of artificial intelligence that makes new text, images, videos, audio, software code, and other data. It learns from lots of information and then uses what it learned to create something new when you give it a short piece of text.

Since the 2020s, generative AI has become very popular because of big steps in a type of computer learning called deep neural networks. These steps include something called large language models, which help computers understand and make text that looks like it was written by a person. Popular tools include chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and others. There are also programs that turn text into images like DALL-E and Midjourney, and even ones that make videos.

Businesses in many areas, such as making software, healthcare, finance, entertainment, and art, are using generative AI to help them work faster. However, there are some worries because these tools can be used to make fake news or deepfakes. Sometimes they learn from materials without permission. They also use a lot of energy, which can affect the environment.

History

Main article: History of artificial intelligence

Above: An image classifier, an example of a neural network trained with a discriminative objective. Below: A text-to-image model, an example of a network trained with a generative objective.

The story of generative AI starts with early ideas about making patterns. One important idea is the Markov chain. This method was created by a mathematician named Andrey Markov. It helps computers learn from existing writing and then create new text.

Later, artists began using computers to make art. New ways to solve problems were also developed. In the late 2000s, big changes in computer learning led to better tools for creating images, sounds, and more. Important moments include the release of DALL-E for turning words into pictures and ChatGPT for creating text. These tools helped make generative AI popular and easy for everyone to use.

Applications

Main article: Applications of artificial intelligence

Generative AI helps create new things and make tasks easier. In healthcare, it helps find new medicines and makes practice data to teach diagnostic tools. In finance, it writes reports, makes data, and helps with customer service. Media and entertainment use it to make music, write scripts, and create images or videos.

Large language models can understand and create human language and even write computer programs from prompts. They can also make realistic speech and visual art. Generative AI can make videos, help plan robot movements, and assist in building 3D models from text or images. It can also help find and improve computer algorithms.

Software and hardware

Architecture of a generative AI agent

Generative AI helps create tools like chatbot products such as ChatGPT, programming tools like GitHub Copilot, and text-to-image tools like Midjourney. You can find these features in everyday software such as Microsoft Office and Google Photos.

Smaller models can work on devices like smartphones and personal computers. Bigger models need stronger laptop or desktop computers with special chips to run faster. The largest models often run in big computer centers that you access using the internet.

Law and regulation

Main article: Regulation of artificial intelligence

Different countries have made rules for using generative AI. In the United States, companies like OpenAI, Alphabet, and Meta agreed to add special marks to show when content is made by AI. They also must share information with the government about certain powerful AI systems.

In the European Union, new rules require companies to tell people when content is created by AI and to share details about the data used to train these systems. In China, rules require AI services to add marks to show when images or videos are made by AI and to follow guidelines about data and values.

Copyright

Main article: Artificial intelligence and copyright

Generative AI learns from many existing works, including those that have copyright protection. Some people think this is okay, while others think it breaks copyright laws. Courts are still deciding these cases.

The United States Copyright Office says that works made completely by AI without human help cannot be copyrighted. However, they are reviewing these rules to see if they should change for AI. In early 2025, the office allowed the first artwork made entirely by AI to be copyrighted.

Concerns

Generative AI has caused many concerns. Leaders and experts worry about how these tools might change jobs or spread false information. Some people fear that AI could take away jobs in writing, design, and acting. Others worry about the quality of information, as AI can sometimes create incorrect content.

Generative AI also raises questions about fairness. These tools can sometimes repeat biases from the data they learn from, leading to unfair treatment of different groups. There are also worries about how much energy these AI systems use, as they need a lot of power to work.

Detection and awareness

There are tools like GPTZero that can try to find content made by AI. Sometimes these tools make mistakes and point to the wrong people (false positives). One way to help find AI content is through digital watermarking. This changes the content in very small ways that special software can detect.

In 2023, OpenAI made a tool for ChatGPT but chose not to share it. They were worried people might use other AI instead. In March 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China said online services must label AI content. Later, in May 2025, Google began using its watermarking tool called SynthID for its AI products. Sadly, in June 2025, some people incorrectly thought certain video games used generative AI.