What is artificial intelligence and why it'll be a $45 billion business in 2020

The iCub robot tries to catch a ball during the Innorobo European summit, an event dedicated to the service robotics industry, in Lyon, central France, Thursday, March 15, 2012. You've probably heard of artificial intelligence by now. But what is AI, why are people talking about it now, and what will it mean for your everyday life? SunTrust recently released a report that breaks down how AI works, so let's tackle those questions one at a time. AI is what people call computer programs that try to replicate how the human brain operates.