What are AI and how do programs like Chatgpt and Deepseek work?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is more and more part of daily life in the past decade.

It is used for everything, from the personalization of social media flows to the feeding of medical breakthroughs.

But while large companies and technological governments have just been at the forefront of AI development, critics have expressed prudence as to its potential use, its ethical complexity and its environmental impact.

AI allows computers to learn and solve problems in a way that may seem human.

Computers cannot think, sympathize or reason.

However, scientists have developed systems that can perform tasks that generally require human intelligence, trying to reproduce how people acquire and use knowledge.

AI programs can process large amounts of data, identify models and follow detailed instructions on what to do with this information.

This could try to anticipate the product that an online buyer could buy, depending on the previous purchases, in order to recommend items.

Technology is also the cause of virtual assistants controlled by voice as Siri d’Apple and Alexa from Amazon, and is used to develop systems for autonomous cars.

AI also helps social platforms like Facebook, Tiktok and X Decide which messages to display users. Streaming services Spotify and Deezer use AI to suggest music.

Scientists also use AI as a means of helping to identify cancers, accelerate diagnostics and identify new drugs.

Computer vision, a form of AI that allows computers to detect objects or people in the images, is used by radiographers to help them examine the results of X -rays.

The generative AI is used to create new content that may seem to have been manufactured by a human.

He does so by learning from large amounts of existing data such as online text and images.

Chatgpt and Chinese rival chatbot Deepseek are two widely used generative tools. Midjourney can create images from simple text prompts.

Chatbots called such as Gemini or Meta AI of Google can hold text conversations with users.

The generative AI can also be used to make high quality videos and music.

Songs imitating the style or sound of famous musicians have become viralSometimes leaving confused fans about their authenticity.

While recognizing the potential of AI, some experts are concerned about the implications of its rapid growth.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has The informed AI could affect almost 40% of jobsand worsen financial inequalities.

Professor Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist considered as one of the “sponsors” of the development of AI, expressed his concern that powerful AI systems could even make humans disappear – a fear Rejected by his comrade “Ai Godfather”, Yann Lecun.

Critics also highlight the potential of technology to reproduce biased information, or discriminate against certain social groups.

Indeed, a large part of the data used to form AI come from public equipment, including publications or comments on social networks, which can reflect biases such as sexism or racism.

Thousands of creators -including the singer -songwriter Abba Björn Ulvaeus, the writers Ian Rankin and Joanne Harris and the actress Julianne Moore – signed a declaration In October 2024, calling a “major and unfair threat” to their livelihoods.

It is not clear how much energy systems use, but some researchers estimate industry as a whole could soon consume as much as the Netherlands.

The creation of powerful IT fleas necessary to execute AI programs also takes a lot of energy and water.

The request for generative AI has an increase in the number of data centers.

These huge rooms – housing thousands of computer servers racks – Use substantial quantities of energy And require large volumes of water to keep them cool.

Some large technological companies have invested in how to reduce or reuse the necessary water, or have opted for alternative methods such as air cooling.

However, some experts and activists fear that AI will aggravate water supply problems.

The BBC was informed in February that the government planned to make the United Kingdom a “world leader” AI could put supplies already stretched in drinking water under tension.

In September 2024, Google said it would reconsider proposals for a data center in Chile, which fought against drought.

Some governments have already introduced rules governing the functioning of AI.

The EU artificial intelligence law places controls on high -risk systems used in areas such as education, health care, police or elections. He Prohibit a certain AI completely uses.

Generative AI developers in China are required to protect citizens’ data and promote transparency and precision of information. But they are also linked by the country’s strict censorship laws.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government “would test and understand AI before regulating it”.

The United Kingdom and the United States have AI security institutes which aim to identify risks and assess advanced AI models.

In 2024 The two countries have signed an agreement to collaborate On the development of “robust” AI test methods.

However, in February 2025, neither of the two countries signed an international AI declaration which has promised an open, inclusive and sustainable approach to technology.

Several countries Including the United Kingdom Also find the use of AI systems to create naked depth images and sexual abuse equipment for children.