Short answer
Artificial intelligence is the broad field of making machines perform tasks that normally need human intelligence. Machine learning is a subset of AI where systems learn patterns from data instead of following hand-written rules. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that uses many-layered neural networks. Generative AI is a use of deep learning that creates new content — text, images, audio, video or code.
By Chandan Maheshwari, AI mentor & consultant, founder of School of AI · Last updated
Key takeaways
- They are nested: AI ⊃ ML ⊃ deep learning.
- Generative AI is built mostly on deep learning.
- ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are generative AI built on large language models.
- Not all AI is machine learning; early AI used rules.
Everyday examples
A spam filter is machine learning. Face unlock on a phone is deep learning. An assistant drafting an email or creating an image is generative AI.
Comparison
| Term | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial intelligence | The broad field of intelligent machines | Chess engines, assistants |
| Machine learning | Learning patterns from data | Spam filters, recommendations |
| Deep learning | ML with layered neural networks | Speech and image recognition |
| Generative AI | Models that create new content | ChatGPT, image generators |
Learning this with School of AI
GenAI Foundation Program
Live, mentor-led and online, open to learners anywhere in India.