Chapter 04 / 17
Different types of AI
Not every AI system does the same job. Some classify what they see, while others suggest what might come next.
Recognise and predict
A classifier might identify an animal in a photo. A prediction system might estimate tomorrow's demand for buses using past journeys.
Create and suggest
Generative AI can produce new text, pictures, or code based on learned patterns. Recommendation tools suggest items you might enjoy, but you can still choose for yourself.
Leo picks the right tool
Leo was making a class poster about pets. First, he used a photo app to sort pictures into cats and dogs. Then he tried a drawing tool to invent a space hamster. One tool labelled an example, while the other made something new.
His friend asked whether both tools were doing the same job. Leo explained that AI can classify, recommend, predict, or generate, depending on how it is built. He also checked the labels and chose the final poster himself. Different jobs need different tools and human choices.
A real-life example
A sports app might classify a clip as showing a goal, while a generative tool could make a new background image for a team poster. Both use AI in different ways.
Sort the AI jobs
- Write classify, recommend, predict, and create on four cards.
- Think of a music app suggesting a song.
- Choose which card best fits and say why.
- Repeat with a photo label and a made-up story.