7 Types of AI, What They Do, and How

Generative AI has been all the buzz since 2023, but artificial intelligence has been around *much* longer than that. dee karen / Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence is changing how we live, work, and interact with technology. From virtual assistants to self-driving cars, AI powers many of the tools we rely on.

But not all AI is created equal. Understanding the different types of AI out there can help clarify what these systems can do today—and what they might do in the future.

Here’s a breakdown of the main types of artificial intelligence, from the reactive machines of the past to the hypothetical, superintelligent "minds" of tomorrow.

1. Reactive Machines

These are the most basic AI systems. Reactive machines operate solely in the present moment, responding to specific tasks without storing past data or learning from experiences.

IBM’s Deep Blue, the chess-playing computer that beat Garry Kasparov, is a classic example. It could analyze possible moves but had no memory or ability to learn.

2. Limited Memory AI

Limited memory AI systems can learn from historical data to make better predictions and decisions. Most modern AI, including machine learning models and deep learning applications, falls into this category.

These systems power self-driving cars, facial recognition, and supply chain management tools by analyzing past data and adjusting accordingly.

3. Theory of Mind AI

Still theoretical, "theory of mind" AI refers to systems that understand human emotions, beliefs, and intentions. The name comes from a psychological concept. Specifically, it's the ability to recognize that other people have their own thoughts, beliefs, desires, and perspectives that may differ from one’s own.

This type of AI would need to process human language, interpret context, and adapt responses—capabilities that could enhance natural language processing and enable more human-like conversational AI.

While researchers are exploring "theory of mind" AI, it’s not yet part of current AI systems.

4. Self-Aware AI

The most advanced and speculative form of AI, self-aware AI would have consciousness and a sense of self. It could experience emotions, understand human beings on a deep level, and make decisions with awareness of its own existence.

This level of artificial general intelligence remains a science-fiction concept and is not yet achievable with current AI development.

5. Narrow AI (Weak AI)

Artificial narrow intelligence is the most common type of AI today. These systems are designed to perform specific tasks—like image recognition, voice assistants, or spam filters. They excel at one function but can’t generalize beyond it.

Narrow AI includes everything from Siri and Alexa to customer service chatbots and recommendation algorithms.

6. General AI (Strong AI)

Artificial general intelligence aims to match or surpass human intelligence across a broad range of tasks. It would be able to solve complex problems, learn across multiple domains, and adapt to new challenges. AGI remains a major goal of AI research but is not yet realized.

7. Superintelligent AI

Super AI refers to a theoretical AI that surpasses human intelligence in all respects. It would outperform people in scientific research, decision-making, and creativity.

While it’s a staple of speculative fiction and AI ethics debates, super AI does not yet exist and raises many philosophical and safety concerns.

Applications and Technologies

AI technologies span a wide range of applications.

Natural language processing: Understanding and generating human language
Computer vision: Image and facial recognition
Machine learning: Training data-driven models
Generative AI: Creating content such as text, images, or music
Predictive AI: Using past experiences to forecast outcomes

AI-based systems are becoming deeply integrated into everyday life, solving repetitive tasks and improving productivity across industries.

Robot Arm — Robotics sometimes go hand in hand with AI.
Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock

From reactive machine AI to the concept of superintelligent AI, artificial intelligence continues to evolve. Most AI remains narrow and task-specific, but ongoing AI research pushes the boundaries of what intelligent machines can do.

As we move forward, understanding the types of AI—and their ethical implications—will be key to making smart, safe decisions about how we integrate AI into society.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.