Glossary

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI is AI that makes new things: text, images, sound or code, instead of only recognizing things that already exist.

Older AI mostly sorted and recognized, for instance filtering out spam. Generative AI makes something new: a text, a picture, a voice or a piece of music. Type a description and you get a new image back. ChatGPT writing an email is generative AI.

What this means for you

This is the kind of AI that turned up everywhere in the last few years. Most of the tools you now meet at work fall under it.

Related words

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Last reviewed: 19 June 2026.