Generative AI, also known as generative adversarial networks (GANs), is a form of artificial intelligence that creates new data by learning from existing datasets. It is a type of unsupervised learning that involves two neural networks: a generator and a discriminator.
The generator network takes random noise as input and generates new data that is similar to the training data. The discriminator network, on the other hand, tries to distinguish between the generated data and the real data. The two networks are trained together in a process called adversarial training, where the generator tries to fool the discriminator, and the discriminator tries to correctly classify the data as real or fake.
The result of this training is a generator network that can create new data that is similar to the training data but is not an exact copy. This makes generative AI useful in a wide range of applications, including image and video synthesis, music generation, and natural language processing.
One of the most popular applications of generative AI is in image and video synthesis. GANs can be used to generate realistic images of faces, landscapes, and even animals that do not exist in the real world. These images can be used for a variety of purposes, including video game development, movie special effects, and even fashion design.
Another application of generative AI is in music generation. GANs can be used to generate new pieces of music that are similar in style to a particular artist or genre. This technology has been used to create original compositions for video games, movies, and advertisements.
Natural language processing is another area where generative AI is being used. GANs can be used to generate text that is similar in style to a particular author or genre. This technology has been used to create new stories, poems, and even entire novels.
Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries, but it is still in its early stages. There are still many challenges to overcome, including the generation of high-quality data, the training of more complex models, and the development of better evaluation metrics.
Despite these challenges, the potential applications of generative AI are vast, and researchers are working hard to push the boundaries of this technology. As we continue to develop more advanced generative AI models, we can expect to see even more exciting applications emerge in the future.
For good illustrations that explain how generative AI works, we compiled a list below.
- This YouTube video by Two Minute Papers provides a brief overview of GANs and includes some great visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw9r8CL98N0
- This article by NVIDIA includes some fantastic examples of GAN-generated images: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2018/08/02/what-is-a-gan/
- This interactive article by The New York Times allows you to explore some of the latest advancements in generative AI: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/12/opinion/artificial-intelligence-deep-learning-art.html
- This Medium article includes some great illustrations that explain the basics of GANs: https://medium.com/@jonathan_hui/gan-whats-generative-adversarial-networks-and-its-application-f39ed278ef09
- This article by OpenAI includes some amazing examples of GAN-generated images, including faces, animals, and landscapes: https://openai.com/blog/glow/
