DadgogoAI Dictionary

Dictionary entry

narrow AI

noun \ˈner-ō ˌā-ˈī\

also weak AI

TopicFundamentals First known use1980s Senses1
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Definition of narrow AI

  1. : AI that is designed for, and good at, one specific task or a small set of related tasks, without general understanding outside that area

    • A face-unlock system is narrow AI: brilliant at one job, useless at everything else.
    • Almost every AI product shipped before 2020 was narrow AI.

Origin & history

first known use1980s

Used as a contrast to 'strong' or 'general' AI. The weak/strong distinction goes back to philosopher John Searle in 1980.

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Related terms

artificial intelligence the field of building computer systems that perform tasks normally thought to require human… artificial general intelligence a hypothetical AI that can understand, learn, and perform virtually any intellectual task a…

Cite this entry

"Narrow AI." AI Dictionary, Dadgogo, https://dadgogo.com/dictionary/narrow-ai/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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