generative AI

noun

variants or less commonly generative artificial intelligence

: artificial intelligence (see artificial intelligence sense 2) that is capable of generating new content (such as images or text) in response to a submitted prompt (such as a query) by learning from a large reference database of examples

Generative AI is a computer tool that can create text that sounds like it was written by a human, based on a given starting point.

—Stephanie Sylvestre

In a departure from previous efforts, Therabot is powered by generative artificial intelligence, meaning it can use existing data and documentation to develop original actions and responses. Another example of generative AI is DALL-E 2, the popular program that can create images from user prompts.

—Sarah Sloat

Publishers hire armies of journalists to produce content. … These publishers will soon leverage generative AI to instantly create thousands of SEO-optimized articles …

—Lloyd Danzig

Examples of generative AI in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2024, the world struggled to come to terms with generative AI’s capabilities and flaws—both of which are significant. —IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2024

As the technology continues to develop and improve and companies work toward implementing it, generative AI promises to continue to reinvent business. —Megan Poinski, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

Copyright is a big issue for generative AI and LLMs, in particular. —Ryan Browne, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025

Michelle Johnson, journalism professor emerita at Boston University, said distortions in the faces of Musk and others behind him are telltale signs that generative AI was used. —Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2012, in the meaning defined above