Module 1 · Lesson 3 Beginner 1 min read
What is Generative AI?
AI that creates new content — text, images, code, and more.
Generative AI is AI that creates new content. Instead of only analysing or classifying information, it produces something new: text, images, music, code, or video.
Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are generative AI. You give them a prompt (an instruction or question), and they generate a response. Image tools like DALL·E and Midjourney create pictures from text descriptions.
This is different from older AI that might only sort emails or predict numbers. Generative AI feels more like having a creative assistant — though it still has important limitations you will learn about later.
Traditional AI vs generative AI
Traditional AI
Before
Classifies or predicts — e.g. 'this email is spam' or 'this image is a cat'After
Generative AI creates new content — e.g. drafts an email or writes a paragraphExamples
- •Asking an AI to draft a meeting agenda
- •Generating a first version of a presentation outline
- •Creating a product description for an online shop
- •Brainstorming blog post titles for a marketing campaign
Key points
- ✓Generative AI creates new content, not just analyses existing data
- ✓Text, images, code, and audio can all be generated
- ✓You interact with it using prompts — instructions or questions
- ✓Popular tools include ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and image generators
Knowledge check
What does generative AI primarily do?
Choose the best answer, then check your understanding.