This BBC explainer sets out what artificial intelligence is, how it works and why its rapid growth is causing concern. AI enables computers to process vast amounts of data and spot patterns, powering everyday tools such as social media feeds, virtual assistants, streaming recommendations and medical diagnostics, alongside newer "generative AI" systems like ChatGPT and DeepSeek that produce text, images and video from simple prompts. The piece matters because AI's influence is expanding rapidly across work, education and daily life, prompting debate over regulation, safety and its broader societal impact.

The article highlights specific worries, including the International Monetary Fund's estimate that AI could affect nearly 40% of jobs and widen global inequality, and warnings from "AI godfather" Geoffrey Hinton that powerful systems could pose an existential threat, a view disputed by fellow AI pioneer Yann LeCun. It also notes more immediate concerns: AI's tendency to "hallucinate" false information, cases of inaccuracy at Apple and Google, embedded biases from training data, and disruption in schools and workplaces through misuse or over-reliance on the technology.