AI, machine learning, neural networks and LLMs: what's the difference?

Junior PRO

Essence

These terms are nested like Russian dolls. AI is the broadest field, machine learning is one approach within it, neural networks are one kind of machine learning model, and LLMs are a specific type of large neural network trained on text. The confusion comes from everyday usage, where "AI" has become a synonym for chatbots, even though Face ID, autocorrect and search in the Photos app are AI too, and they appeared long before ChatGPT.

Artificial intelligence (AI)
└── Machine learning (ML)
    └── Deep learning (neural networks)
        └── Large language models (LLMs)