What exactly is artificial intelligence, and what does it mean for how we live and work? That was the topic of discussion at a recent hearing I chaired on "Digital Decision-Making," held before the Senate subcommittee that oversees Internet and telecommunications issues. Artificial intelligence, often referred to as AI, might sound straight out of a science fiction book or TV show, but it is becoming an increasingly common, if not instrumental, part of everyday life. AI is the technology that enables a machine to make a decision based on the data it has collected, such as when a smartphone gives driving directions around congested traffic or an e-mail system detects spam messages. Social media, online shopping, and preventing credit card fraud all have AI components.