Definition
The generative AI era is the period since about 2020, in which large models began producing convincing text, images, code and audio. ChatGPT's launch in November 2022 brought this to hundreds of millions of people. It was followed by open-weight models, reasoning models and agents.
In simple words
For most of history you needed to be a programmer to use AI. Then suddenly anyone could type a sentence, and get back an essay, a picture or working code.
Why it matters
It's the period you're living in. It's changing how work is done, raising new questions about copyright and truth, and moving fast enough that specifics date quickly.
How it works
| Period | Development |
|---|---|
| 2020 | GPT-3 shows that very large language models can do many tasks |
| 2022 | Image tools such as Stable Diffusion spread, and ChatGPT launches |
| 2023 | GPT-4, Claude and Llama. Open-weight models grow. |
| 2024 | Multimodal models and reasoning models that work through steps |
| 2025 onward | Agents that use tools and act, and efficient open models |
Common mistakes
- Treating last year's limits or benchmarks as current.
- Assuming every announcement means a real capability. Test on your own task.
Check yourself
Summary
- ChatGPT brought generative AI to the mass public in 2022.
- Open models, reasoning models and agents followed.
- Specifics date quickly, so check dates.
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