Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is a system of algorithms or computer processes that can create novel output in text, images, or other media based on user prompts. These systems are created by programmers and trained on large sets of data. The AI learns by finding patterns in the data and can then provide conversational outputs to users' queries based on its findings.

GAI systems are distinguished from other AI systems by their ability to create novel (conversational) output. For example, predictive AI systems on smartphones can suggest a short, common response to an email by analyzing the text received and drawing from a pool of common responses. GAI systems, (e.g., ChatGPT; Microsoft Copilot), employ a Large Language Models (LLM), go a step further to provide new information for users based on their questions or requests. Text based generative AI systems are based on LLMs, which are huge probabilistic algorithms for drawing upon a corpus of text to predict likely sequences of words. Other generative AI systems may be based on images or sounds as well.

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Generative Artificial Intelligence. Network of the National Library of Medicine. Retrieved July 2024 from URL https://www.nnlm.gov/guides/data-thesaurus/generative-artificial-intelligence