Understanding AI

Artificial intelligence offers ample room for speculation about the future. What is certain is that this technology has already profoundly changed our everyday lives and will continue to do so. Algorithms have long been supporting us in various fields such as autonomous driving, security technology, marketing, and social media. Artificial intelligence is even used to create works of art. But how many of our tasks do we want to outsource to machines? No other development currently poses the question so clearly of how we want to use our technological means in a societal context. The societal change brought about by artificial intelligence is already in full swing. To navigate this change, a fundamental understanding of this technology is necessary. "Understanding AI" gathers both the most important technical aspects of artificial intelligence and concrete examples of its application. Among other things, it explores how machines and their sensors "perceive" the world compared to humans, what machine learning is, and how automatic facial recognition works. Various social and ethical considerations, such as deepfakes (where deceptively realistic images or videos are generated automatically using neural networks), the impacts of profiling through digital methods, and the hidden aspects of our everyday electronic devices like smartphones are also examined. New creative applications arising from artificial intelligence are showcased and made tangible for visitors. There are no universally valid answers regarding the benefits or dangers of artificial intelligence, but "Understanding AI" provides a broad base of information that helps us navigate this complex field.