What is AI? A Plain-English Guide for Beginners
Everyone is talking about AI, but what is it really? We explain it without difficult words, with examples you already know and a prompt to try yourself.
Everyone is talking about it, but what actually is AI? Here you can read about it in plain English, without difficult words. You will discover that you have been using it for years, how a computer learns and what to watch out for.
What is AI in plain English?
AI is software that can do things we used to expect only from people, such as understanding language, recognising images, making predictions or writing a text. AI stands for artificial intelligence.
There is no single fixed definition. The Dutch Radiocommunications and Digital Infrastructure Inspectorate (Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur) describes AI as systems that analyse their surroundings and take action with a degree of independence to reach a goal. Put simply: the computer does not just follow fixed rules, but makes its own choices based on what it has learned.
Where do you already use AI without knowing it?
AI is not new: it has been in the devices and services you use every day for years. Often you do not even notice it. A few examples:
- Your phone recognising your face to unlock.
- A navigation app that predicts a traffic jam and picks another route.
- The spam filter that keeps unwanted email out of your inbox.
- A streaming service recommending a series to you.
- Automatic subtitles on a video.
More and more people also use AI on purpose. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), in 2024 as many as 23 per cent of people in the Netherlands aged 12 and over had created texts, videos or images with an AI programme such as ChatGPT.
How does a computer learn?
A computer learns by looking at a very large number of examples and discovering patterns in them by itself. In the past, a programmer had to give a computer every rule. With AI it works differently. This way of learning is called machine learning.
An example: show a computer tens of thousands of photos of cats and dogs, with the right answer for each photo. After a while, it can tell you by itself whether a new photo shows a cat or a dog. Nobody told it what a cat’s ear looks like. It learned that from the examples.
That also means AI is only as good as the examples it was trained on. If those contain mistakes or biases, the AI picks them up.
What is generative AI and why is it new?
Generative AI is AI that does not just recognise things, but also creates something new, such as a text, an image or a piece of music. This kind of AI has become very well known in recent years.
Chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Claude are the best-known examples. You type a question in everyday language and you get an answer in everyday language. Want to get started yourself? Then read our guide to using ChatGPT as a beginner.
What is AI good at, and what is it not?
AI is strong at working with language and patterns, but it does not always tell the truth. That is why it is a handy helper, not a replacement for your own judgement.
| What AI does well | What AI cannot (yet) do well |
|---|---|
| Writing, shortening, translating or changing the tone of texts | Always tell the truth. A chatbot can make things up and sound very convincing |
| Summarising long documents | Truly understand. AI recognises patterns, but has no experience or feelings of its own |
| Coming up with ideas, for example for a gift, a title or a social media post | Take responsibility. You remain responsible for what you do with an answer |
| Explaining things at the level you ask for | Know what is confidential. What you type in may be stored |
Be careful about what you share, too. Do not put personal details of customers or colleagues into a chatbot. In our article on using AI safely and protecting your privacy you can read what to look out for. In Europe, AI is also covered by rules under the European AI Act. Among other things, these rules mean it must be clear when you are talking to a chatbot.
How do you get started with AI?
The easiest way to get to know AI is simply to try a free chatbot. Ask a question about something you know a lot about yourself. Then you will see straight away what works and what does not.
Want better answers? Then it helps to know what a prompt is and how to write a good one. Want to use AI in your job? Then read how to get started with AI at work.
Frequently asked questions
Is AI the same as ChatGPT?
No. ChatGPT is one example of AI, namely a chatbot. AI is a much broader term. Face recognition, spam filters and streaming recommendations are also forms of AI.
Can AI think for itself?
Not like a human. AI recognises patterns in the data it was trained on. It has no experience, feelings or understanding of the world of its own.
Can I simply trust AI answers?
No. A chatbot can make mistakes and invent things. Always check important information with a reliable source, especially for questions about money, health or law.
Do I need technical knowledge to use AI?
No. With most chatbots you simply type a question in everyday language. You do not need to be able to code.
Your next step? Open a free chatbot, copy the prompt above and try it today. Are you a business owner? Then also read our first steps with AI for business owners.
Was this article helpful?
