Which term refers to the ability of computers to perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence?

The ability of computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence is defined as artificial intelligence (AI). This encompasses a variety of cognitive functions such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding. AI systems utilize algorithms and models to interpret, learn from data, and make decisions similar to how a human might. As such, AI is a broad field that includes subfields such as machine learning, wherein computers improve their performance over time based on accumulated experience or data.

In contrast, machine learning is a subset of AI focused specifically on the development of algorithms that allow computers to learn from and make predictions based on data, but it doesn’t encompass all aspects of human-like intelligence. Data mining involves extracting patterns and knowledge from large datasets, which is a different focus compared to the imitation of human intelligence. Robotics refers to the design and construction of robots, which may utilize AI but does not inherently include the cognitive processes that define AI itself. Hence, the most accurate term that captures the essence of mimicking human intelligence through computer systems is artificial intelligence.