Artificial intelligence (AI) is software that allows computers and robots to perform tasks in a way that mimics human intelligence. John McCarthy first proposed the term "artificial intelligence" in 1956. AI uses techniques like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision to perform tasks previously only done by humans, such as playing games, recognizing speech, and understanding language. While AI has advantages like efficiency, reliability, and ability to handle complex tasks, it also has drawbacks like limited ability and lack of complete human traits. The ultimate goal of AI research is to solve problems humans cannot.