Strong or Weak Artificial Intelligence?
AI is divided into weak and strong AI. A weak AI can solve a clearly defined task using learned skills. The learning ability of the system is limited to the recognition of patterns and correlations within (large) data sets. To learn these patterns, machine learning and deep learning methods are increasingly used nowadays in addition to classical statistical methods due to the availability of powerful hardware and extensive data volumes. Weak AI systems therefore solve quite complex problems, but are limited to solving only one given problem. If other problems are to be tackled, a new AI system must be set up.
The weak AI is opposed by the strong AI. A strong AI has the task of imitating humans in its way of acting and thinking. It should be able to formulate new questions independently, learn the necessary knowledge and creatively find new solutions. This type of AI is not feasible according to the current state of technology and science and remains only a vision for the time being. Strong AI systems can only be found in science fiction pop culture, for example the computer HAL 9000 from the movie »2001: A Space Odyssey« by Stanley Kubrick or »Skynet« from the »Terminator« movie series.
Thus, it can be stated that all AI systems, which are in use nowadays and also in our company, represent weak AI. Our ITWM activities of the AI pilot are also in the area of weak AI. You can find out more about this here on the website of the AI pilot. In 2020, our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel was appointed AI pilot for mobility by the Ministry of Science of Rhineland-Palatinate.