Artificial intelligence is the set of fields where we try to create intelligent machines. It consists of generic research and applied research. Generic research is closer to strong AI. On the other hand, applied research mostly consists of weak AI which we can actually see and use around us.

This article summarises most of the common fields related to research in AI.

1. Data mining

It is a technology that combines database technology and machine learning. Recently, it has emerged as a method of finding information that seems useful from a large amount of unorganized data. For example, if you shop online, you may see recommendations that suit your taste. This is based on the data of the previous shopping to examine the preference of the customer by data mining.

2. Emotional processing/Sentiment Analysis

This is a research that aims to realize the sense of warmth or coldness on a computer based on knowledge of cognitive science and ergonomics.

3. Expert systems

These are systems that accumulate expert knowledge as rules and solve problems using inference methods.

4. Games

It is research that tries to make a game with human beings a computer. The computer has won by fighting against human chess champions.

5. Genetic algorithm

This is a method of problem solving using the principle that two parents’ characteristics are mixed with children and inherited. It is used as a way to realize search, machine learning and planning. This field is genetic programming, which generates programs using the principles of genetic algorithms. In addition, it has been developed into fields such as the process of evolution of biological groups and artificial life that simulates activities in living organisms.

6. Human interface

This research is intended to make it easier for humans to operate computers and other devices.

7. Image recognition

This research is to make a computer understand the content taken by a camera. We can roughly divide it into image comprehension and image processing. Image comprehension makes the computers understand the contents of pictures. On the other hand, image processing changes the brightness and tone of pictures. For example, the sepia tone of digital cameras, Instagram filters, etc. While image processing does have practical usage, image understanding is still in the research stage.

8. Inference

It is a method to integrate various rules and to derive a consistent answer. The most basic is Aristotle’s three-stage logic. It concludes in three steps: “All Humans Are Mortal. Socrates Is a Human. Therefore, Socrates Is a Mortal.”

9. Information retrieval

It is a technology to find out what human beings need from accumulated data. Some good examples of its application are search engines.

10. Knowledge expression

This research is about how to express knowledge in computer properly, and store it efficiently.

11. Machine learning

It is a research that tries to find consistent rules among data collected by observation sensors and other means. There is a strong association with the field of mathematical statistics. Also, machine learning is used in many other areas of AI as well.

12. Multi-agent

There are many agents who can solve simple problems and try to solve complicated problems. It is used to investigate the behavior of dealers in the natural world and in financial markets.

13. Natural language processing

This research is to make computers understand sentences in human languages. It has applications in the field of speech recognition and information retrieval too.

14. Neural networks

It is a technique based on the nerve of the organism. As you might know, it is a powerful subset of machine learning. Also, it has its use in various other fields of AI as well.

15. Planning

It is a method to decide in what order things should be done for the purpose.

16. Robotics

It is a research combining mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence research. How to move the robot can be determined by applying the methods of each field of AI.

17. Searching

It is a method to find out what meets the conditions from the data collection. We need various strategies because of the large number of data and complicated conditions. It is a technology that is the basis of machine learning and reasoning.

18. Voice Recognition

This research is to make a computers understand what you talked to the microphone It is put to practical use in systems such as car navigation. It has been developed into research that enables recognition in situations other than limited circumstances such as in a car, and to identify who is talking.