Welcome to the first episode of ‘AI Demystified’—a mini-series in which we break down what artificial intelligence really is, how it works, and why it matters to you. Whether you're curious, cautious, or confused about AI, this series is here to help you understand the essentials in plain English.
I’m Paraskevi Kivroglou, a software developer and AI researcher who’s passionate about making tech accessible to everyone. Today, we’re starting at the beginning: What actually is AI, and why do so many people think it’s magic?
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Let’s Define ΑΙ – Simply
Picture this: You walk into your favourite coffee spot, and the barista knows your order- a freddo espresso black. They learned your pattern.
AI works the same way. It is an algorithm that learns to predict future patterns based on data that has already been received.
If you train AI on thousands of coffee orders, it will also learn to predict what order will come next.
Another AI algorithm you might already know is the Netflix algorithm. Have you ever wondered how Netflix recommends movies and series? Well, based on what you have already watched, find patterns in the data and be able to guess your next hit.
Why AI is different from traditional software algorithms
Traditional software is more like if A is true, then perform B, else perform C. You see here, you need to code every instruction strictly. If you don’t, then the software won’t check A to find out what to do next.
AI has seen data previously, a period we call the training period. Based on this data, it can make a prediction. For example, if you train AI to recognise cats and dogs, it will be able to recognise them most of the time. Since we are talking about prediction, it is essential to remember that AI can make mistakes. It might predict something wrong, too.
Daily Meets with AI that you might ignore
You’re already using AI right now. Let’s play a game:
Do you know how your phone unlocks with your face? AI compares your selfie to stored patterns.
Gmail finishing your sentences? AI predicts your following words like a psychic keyboard.
Instagram’s weirdly accurate ads? AI stalked your search history (kidding… sort of).
It’s not sci-fi; it’s in your pocket, your inbox, and even your Spotify Wrapped. AI is the quiet helper you never knew you hired.
HOW AI “LEARNS” (NO PHDS REQUIRED)
Let’s break down the secret sauce: training. You show them red blocks go here, blue blocks go there. AI does this, but at warp speed.
Data In: Feed it examples (like 10,000 labelled colored Lego pictures, red, blue, and more).
Pattern Hunting: It creates a “recipe” to tell them apart. Imagine that it tries to find a logic to tell apart the Legos.
Testing: Give new pics on it. If it messes up, tweak the recipe.
That’s it! No PhD needed. It’s just trial, error, and a lot of caffeine for the engineers.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU
“Okay, but why should I care?” Because AI is shaping everything:
Jobs: It’s automating grunt work (bye-bye, data entry). The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 indicates that employers expect 39% of key skills required in the job market will change by 2030. Technological skills, particularly AI and big data, are projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skills in the next five years.
Healthcare: Spotting tumours in X-rays faster than humans.
Creativity: Writing songs, making art, controversial, but fascinating.
But- and this is huge-AI’s only as good as its teachers. Biased data? Biased results. That’s why understanding AI matters. You don’t need to code it, but you should know when to question it and how to use it. A good starting point would be to play with Chatgpt if you have not already done so.
Let’s recap:
AI = Pattern detective.
Not magic, not conscious, not perfect.
You’re already using it daily.
And knowing the basics lets you spot the BS.
If you found it helpful and you liked this episode, share it with that friend who thinks AI’s all Terminators. Subscribe, leave a review, and keep building.
References:
Future of Jobs Report: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/future-of-jobs-report-2025-jobs-of-the-future-and-the-skills-you-need-to-get-them/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPT/comments/14h2656/here_are_some_ai_tools_you_can_use_for/
Course Book Machine Learning DLMDSML01, IU International University of Applied Sciences 2022
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