ai meaning (slang): definition, etymology and quotations

ai

contractionalso spelled AI

/aɪ/

Etymology Contraction of aight (which itself is a contraction of all right).

noun

CA, US, UK /ˌeɪ̯ˈaɪ̯/ · CA /ˌeɪ̯ˈʌɪ̯/

15 senses

Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence

“Wintermute is the recognition code for an AI. I've got the Turing Registry Numbers. Artificial Intelligence.”1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 73:
The geth serve as a cautionary tale against the dangers of rogue AI, and in Citadel Space they are technically illegal. Advocacy groups argue, however, that an AI is a living, conscious entity deserving the same rights as organics. They argue that continued use of the term "artificial" is institutionalized racism on the part of organic life, the term "synthetic" is considered the politically correct alternative.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Computers: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Codex entry:

4 more examples

The result, Gurry said, will be many new AI-based methods and products that can change lives across the world.2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America, archived from the original on 07 Feb 2019:
A Vatican directive supplements such principles and states AI should be “explainable” to humans, i.e., we should be able to explain the reasons for a decision made by AI. The document also states that AI should avoid discrimination.2022, Catriona Campbell, AI by Design: A Plan for Living with Artificial Intelligence (Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Series), Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, →ISBN:
The same is true for AIs that play (and win) these games.2023 March 21, Ian Bogost, “Is This the Singularity for Standardized Tests?”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2023:
An aside: None of this danger depends on whether or not AIs are or can be conscious; it’s intrinsic to the notion of powerful cognitive systems that optimize hard and calculate outputs that meet sufficiently complicated outcome criteria.2023 March 29, Eliezer Yudkowsky, “The Open Letter on AI Doesn't Go Far Enough”, in TIME, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2023:

Broadly A specific artificial intelligence program, such as the chatbot ChatGPT.

Artificial intelligence

Video games The system that controls the behavior of enemies and non-player characters.

Artificial intelligence

The character you are not controlling will follow you around and attack using [Sword of Mana]'s AI.2003 December 23, “Epic Preview”, in Nintendo Power, volume 174, Sword of Mana, page 108:
I still wish my party members weren't reduced to AI helpers with no health bars who I control only through a radial menu to fire off their skill combos.2025 February 23, Lauren Morton, “Review: Dragon Age: The Veilguard”, in PC Gamer (US), number 392, page 54; published online 28 October 2024:

Video games A character or entity controlled by the game instead of a player.

Artificial intelligence

Management Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of action item.

British airforce, Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of airborne intelligence (synonym for an early type of airborne radar).

Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sciences Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of articulatory index.

Agriculture, Business, Lifestyle Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of artificial insemination.

Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of adequate intake.

Abbreviation Abbreviation of angiotensin I.

Anthropology, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of atavistic-idiosyncratic.

Aeronautics, Aerospace, Aviation, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of attitude indicator.

Diving, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports, Underwater diving Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of air integration.

Education Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of academic integrity.

Abbreviation, Initialism Initialism of amelogenesis imperfecta.

Derived terms: agentic AI, AI art, AI artist, AI bro, AI bubble, AI drift, AI-first, AIgiarism, AI-native, AI notkilleveryoneism, AIOps, AIpocalypse, AI psychosis, AI slop, AI washing, AI whisperer, AI winter, frontier AI, generative AI, shadow AI
Related terms: AII, AIII, AIV

verb

Informal To use artificial intelligence to search for or generate content.

adj

Generated or appearing to have been generated by artificial intelligence.

It definitely doesn’t look AI, her right (our left) pupil looks a bit shifted towards the center of her face, but it might be the highlights.2025 January 13, @Dani_the_goose, "What does this portrait make look off and like AI?":
honestly the Lost Road cover seems more AI to me, but it's too low res to tell, and who knows these days2025 December 13, @bookelmen, "Is the Polish cover art for "The Return of the Shadow" AI? It looks really suspicious to me, especially compared to how detailed and beautiful the previous covers are (pic 2 is "The Lost Road")":

noun

/ˈɑ.i/

Etymology Originated 1685–95, from Brazilian Portuguese aí, from Old Tupi a'y.

A type of three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, endemic to forests of southern Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil.