What is generative AI? (opens in new tab)

If you've tried ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Nano Banana, Grok, or any other AI chatbot or image generator, you've used generative AI (also called GenAI). Over the past few years, huge developments in generative AI and computing power have taken these kinds of tools out of research labs and made them a practical part of everyday life. You've almost definitely used generative AI, but let's dig a little deeper and add some more context. Table of contents: What is generative AI? How does generative