Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content—text, images, music, or even videos—by analyzing large datasets. Unlike traditional AI, which focuses on analyzing data to make decisions, generative AI produces original and realistic content based on patterns it has learned.

For example:

An AI trained on thousands of articles can help write essays or summarize information.
An AI that has studied art styles can create original designs or illustrations.

How Does It Work?

Generative AI typically uses advanced models such as:

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): These create realistic images and videos by having two neural networks compete with each other.
Large Language Models (LLMs): These generate coherent, human-like text by predicting what word or phrase should come next based on a given prompt.

These models are trained on extensive datasets, learning the patterns and structures within the data. For instance, an AI trained on numerous books can generate coherent and human-like text. Here is a great visual explanation of Generative AI. You can check out the chart below to compare/contrast popular LLMs (or check out ITHAKA S+R's Generative AI Product Tracker)

Popular LLMs: Similarities and Differences

LLMs Chart
Model	Key Features	Strengths	Limitations	Best For	Try Here
GPT-4	Advanced transformer model for human-like text generation.	Highly versatile for writing, coding, and brainstorming.	GPT-4 is available via ChatGPT Pro, but GPT-4-turbo is what’s actually used in most cases (faster and cheaper)	Advanced content creation, coding, brainstorming.	GPT-4
GPT-4o	Faster and more accessible version of GPT-4.	Free to use, robust capabilities for most tasks.	May be slightly less strategic or precise in edge cases compared to GPT-4, but excels in speed and multimodal tasks.	Everyday content generation and general AI interactions.	GPT-4o
Claude 3.5	Focus on safety, interpretability, and kindness. Can analyze handwriting and charts.	Ethical AI generation, processes visual data, supports document uploads. Handles long contexts well, excellent at interpreting long or complex documents.	No internet access, limited versatility for highly technical tasks.	Document analysis, ethical AI interactions.	Claude
Gemini	Integrates reinforcement learning with real-time internet access.	Gemini can search the web in real-time when enabled, but some versions (like Gemini 1.5 Pro) may not have internet access in every interface.	Factual accuracy can vary; real-time web access is not always available in all versions.	Research and real-time fact-checking.	Gemini
Copilot	Microsoft-integrated AI for enhanced productivity.	Automates tasks, works seamlessly with Microsoft tools, supports 60+ languages. Includes GitHub Copilot for coding assistance.	Limited to Microsoft ecosystem; may include ads.	Office productivity, automation, and workflow management.	Copilot
Perplexity	Specializes in factual accuracy and probabilistic reasoning.	Excels in detailed explanations and reliable answers. Uses live web search to verify and cite sources.	Struggles with creative or highly nuanced content.	Research, fact-based Q&A.	Perplexity
Pi	Designed for empathetic, supportive conversations.	Strong emotional intelligence, natural conversational flow. Designed for emotionally intelligent, supportive interactions with a personal tone.	Limited for technical or research-based tasks.	Emotional support, coaching, and casual conversation.	Pi
Bloom	Open-source multilingual model trained on diverse datasets.	Ideal for multilingual education and cross-cultural applications.	Requires technical expertise for setup and deployment.	Multilingual and culturally diverse content.	Bloom
LLaMA	Open-source model for AI research and customization. Developed by Meta for academic and research use.	Flexible, customizable for specific use cases.	Not user-friendly for general consumers; requires technical expertise.	AI research, model fine-tuning.	LLaMA
Latimer	Named after engineer Lewis Latimer, trained on diverse, verified sources.	Excels in generating culturally nuanced content with historical and educational depth.	Limited in creative writing; may require a subscription for full access.	Educational content, historical research, diversity-focused materials.	Latimer

📌 How to Start Exploring

Try Out the Tools: Check out the links above. You can also compare models with a bot or using the Find the Right AI Tool for the Task chart.
Experiment with Simple Projects: Start by creating content such as assignments, announcements, or lesson outlines. Use AI to analyze material by summarizing articles or refining rubrics. Additionally, automate workflows by developing templates for repetitive tasks.
Check Out Online Courses: Enroll in online courses that provide hands-on experience and deeper understanding of generative AI.
Collaborate with Colleagues: Share ideas and projects with peers to identify the most effective tools for your teaching context.

Consider checking out the OpenAI Academy courses to learn more.