AI glossary

Machine learning (ML) is a field of study focusing on how machines can "learn" (i.e., perform increasingly advanced tasks). It involves using algorithms that make entirely autonomous decisions and predictions in interaction with training data. A currently popular ML approach is deep learning, involving neural networks with multiple layers.

Machine translation is the use of software to translate text or speech between languages. Apps like Google Translate and DeepL typically use neural networks. At a basic level, this process may involve replacing a word in one language with its equivalent in another language. However, for better results, automatic translation systems need to consider the sentence structure of the two languages and the context in which each word appears to arrive at the most probable translation.

Midjourney is a generative AI system that produces images in response to user prompts. It was developed and released by the San Francisco-based company Midjourney, Inc. and is currently in open beta. Like DALL-E and other AI image generators, Midjourney has been the subject of both praise and criticism, with some claiming the app can be used to create deepfakes or plagiarizes the work of human artists, while others highlight the creative possibilities and accessibility of the tool.