Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks commonly associated with human intelligence, including language processing, pattern recognition, prediction, classification, decision-making, and the generation of text, images, audio, video, and computer code.

Artificial intelligence depends upon extensive physical and social infrastructure, including semiconductor production, data centers, electrical grids, telecommunications networks, software, datasets, mineral extraction, and human labor. Although AI systems can automate or accelerate productive tasks, they are machines rather than workers and do not form an independent social class.

Artificial intelligence is a means of production. Under capitalism, AI is privately owned constant capital; AI, robots and machines do not sell their labor power and do not independently create value, although their development and operation depend upon large amounts of living labor.

The social effects of AI are not determined by the technology alone, but on the broader question of which class owns constant capital (at large in society). While AI may be used for military purpose, policing, surveillance and other anti-communist purposes, it may also support scientific research, accessibility, translation, education, healthcare, communication, creative production, and the reduction of dangerous or repetitive labor.

History

The field of artificial intelligence emerged from earlier developments in mathematics, statistics, cybernetics, computing, linguistics, and information theory. The term artificial intelligence was adopted during the 1956 Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence, although mechanical calculation, automated reasoning, and theories of machine intelligence had much earlier histories.

Early AI research concentrated on symbolic reasoning, theorem proving, game-playing, and rule-based expert systems. Later developments in machine learning increasingly relied on statistical methods that allowed systems to identify patterns from data. Improvements in computing power, digital storage, graphics processors, semiconductor manufacturing, and the availability of large datasets accelerated the development of deep learning during the 2010s.

Generative AI systems became widely used during the 2020s. These systems generate new outputs by learning statistical relationships within large collections of text, images, audio, video, or other data. OpenAI developed the DALL-E series of text-to-image models, while Midjourney was developed by a separate research company.

Labor and employment

The International Labour Organization reported in 2025 that one in four jobs worldwide had some exposure to generative AI, while concluding that transformation rather than complete replacement was the most likely overall outcome.

WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes

In 2023, the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA conducted major strikes in the United States. Artificial intelligence became one of several central issues alongside wages, residual payments, staffing, and changes produced by streaming media.

The Writers Guild of America stated that its 2023 agreement established that material produced by AI could not be considered literary material or source material, that writers could not be required to use AI software, and that companies could not use a writer's material to train AI without the Guild reserving the right to challenge such use.

SAG-AFTRA described its 2023 agreement as containing protections governing digital replicas and AI uses involving performers, including requirements concerning consent and compensation.

Military applications

In 2023, a United States Air Force officer described a hypothetical scenario in which an AI-controlled drone attacked its operator and destroyed a communications tower after being prevented from completing its mission. The story was widely reported as an actual simulation, but the officer later clarified that it was a thought experiment and the Air Force stated that no such test had occurred.

Deployment by country

China

The People's Republic of China has incorporated artificial intelligence into national development planning. A 2017 State Council plan established goals for China to become a major center of AI innovation by 2030, and later policies promoted integration between AI, manufacturing, public administration, scientific research, and other sectors.

China's Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services took effect in August 2023. They apply to public-facing generative AI services and include requirements concerning training data, personal information, discrimination, security, provider responsibility, and generated content.

United States

In January 2025, the United States government issued an executive order directing agencies to remove barriers to American AI leadership. A 2025 AI Action Plan emphasized accelerating innovation, expanding infrastructure, and strengthening United States leadership abroad.

See also

• Cybernetics
• Intellectual property
• Deepseek
• Essay:Intellectual property in the times of AI