Yes, once upon a time, it was a Steven Spielberg movie (and an underrated masterpiece on top of that). But today "AI" is a buzz phrase that pops up with more and more frequency in all kinds of social, political and especially technological contexts. AI stands, of course, for "artificial intelligence," also often referred to as "machine learning." Ask most folks to define AI, however, and it's much like asking people how a toilet works: You think you know, until you have to explain it to someone else. Artificial intelligence is a moving target, which makes it a challenge for even professionals in tech to fully understand it.

What comes to mind when you think of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Chances are, the first thing that pops in your head is a group of robots that take over the planet and rule over humans. Thanks to the reoccurring themes in Hollywood and the media, AI has gotten a bad rap as something that is created by evil corporations but wreaks havoc on all of humanity in the future. However, you might be forgetting that AI is already embedded in your day-to-day routine. Autocorrect, self-driving cars, robo advisors, and of course--Siri and Alexa--are all under the umbrella of AI.