Introduction to Generative AI, Second Edition, builds on the first edition with revised content throughout and two entirely new chapters. Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, generative AI has rapidly become a global phenomenon, captivating the imagination of millions of users while also raising cautions from researchers, policymakers, and industry observers about its limitations and risks. This book provides a high-level introduction to generative AI with an emphasis on large language models (LLMs). We explain how generative models work, where they are being used, and both the promise and the risks that they pose.
This second edition adds chapters on prompt engineering, covering strategies for writing, refining, and evaluating prompts, and on AI agents, exploring how they are designed and where they are headed. It also goes into greater detail on developments such as retrieval-augmented generation, multimodal models, reasoning capabilities, and Mixture of Experts systems. Beyond technical advances, this edition expands the book’s coverage of data governance, licensing, and creator rights, and it takes a closer look at the global adoption of generative AI and its impact on education, labor, and investment.