The Artificial intelligence, AI is the ability of a computer system to perform tasks that until recently only a person could do: recognize an image, maintain a conversation, detect a pattern among millions of data or make a decision with incomplete information. It is not a new technology; it has been researched since the 1950s. What is new is that, for the first time, it is reaching companies of all sizes and sectors in a massive way.
There are several types of AI, each with different capabilities, ways of working, and the learning paradigm with which each model is trained. In this article we review what types of AI exist today, how the different types are classified, and what the future holds for them. Artificial intelligence and what real examples there are behind each of them, among them several projects that we have developed in Imascono.
Classifications of Artificial Intelligence
According to its capabilities, Artificial Intelligence is grouped into three types: Narrow, General, and Superintelligence. The first is the only one that exists today and is already working in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence in tourism, Industry or education. The latter is actively being researched. The third remains, for the time being, the domain of the future.
Narrow or Weak AI (ANI)
Artificial Narrow Intelligence, or ANI, is by far the most widespread type of AI and also the most inflexible: it focuses on a single task and devotes all its capabilities to solving it well. It does not replicate human behavior in general; it simulates it in a very specific function.
This category includes virtual assistants, Spam filters, facial recognition systems, autonomous vehicles, or generative AI tools, each specializing in a specific problem. In Imascono We have developed several ANI projects: VEGA, our conversational AI avatar; SanIA, the guidance assistant we created for Sanitas within the hospital; or IRIA, for Iveco.
General Intelligence Agency (AGI)
Artificial General Intelligence, or AGI, would be a machine capable of imitating human intelligence with broad adaptability: it learns, reason, and proposes a different solution for each problem, rather than being limited to a single function.
Today, there is no real AGI. Models like GPT-5, Claude Opus, or Gemini show general reasoning in specific benchmarks, but they still fail in simple tasks outside their training domain. They are, in fact, extraordinarily capable ANI systems, not a type of general artificial intelligence in the strict sense. Still, they serve to give an idea of where this classification is heading.
Artificial Superintelligence (ASI)
Artificial Superintelligence, or ASI, would go one step further than AGI: an AI that surpasses the human mind in all areas, from scientific reasoning to creativity or decision-making. It is a hypothetical type of AI. For now, we have only seen it in science fiction, in movies like Terminator or Her.
| Type of AI | Description | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| IA Estrecha (ANI) | Specialized in a specific task | Yes: it's all the current AI |
| General Intelligence Agency (AGI) | Able to reason in any domain like a human | Under investigation |
| Superintelligence (ASI) | It surpasses human intelligence in all aspects | No: hypothetical |
Types of AI according to their learning paradigm
Artificial Intelligence is not always programmed explicitly. In many cases, data is given and the algorithms are trained. Depending on the learning model and the type of data with which it is trained, we can distinguish three main types of AI.
Symbolic AI (expert systems and rules)
Expert systems are computer programs that solve a very specific problem by emulating the reasoning of an expert in the field. They operate with predefined rules and focus all their capabilities on a single goal. They are commonly used in fields such as finance, medicine, or logistics to mimic the decision-making of a professional, and their training is entirely focused on that area. If you are interested, discover interactions between Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence.
Machine Learning (or Automatic Learning)
It is one of the types of Artificial Intelligence with the most impact on business. Machines learn from structured data: the algorithm analyzes the information, detects patterns, and provides results that improve with experience.
Today we work with three learning strategies. In the supervised learning, The model is guided by labeled data. In the unsupervised, The system finds patterns autonomously. And in the learning by reinforcement, You learn from rewards that we define.
Deep Learning (or Deep Learning)
Deep learning goes one step further. These are programs with multiple levels based on neural networks, with different connected learning models that help each other. It allows working with unstructured data, such as images, audio, or video, because the models find the structure of the data themselves. This is the foundation on which Generative AI is built.
AI agents: what they are and how they work in companies
An AI agent is a system that doesn’t just respond: it receives a goal, plans the steps to achieve it, and executes them by connecting to other tools, such as a CRM, a database, or email. If an LLM is the brain, the agent is that brain with hands. This is the concept that has grown the most in 2026 among all the AI systems that exist, because it allows for automating entire processes and not just individual tasks.
In practice, an agent can review the incidents that come in through the web, categorize them, respond to the simple ones, and forward the complex ones to the appropriate person without anyone intervening at every step. If you want to learn more, we explain it to you What is an AI agent? in detail and how we work AI agents for companies.
Difference between chatbot, virtual assistant, and AI agent
They are often confused, but they are different AI with a very different level of autonomy:
| Chatbot | Virtual assistant | AI Agent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomy | None: follows a script | Low: Executes explicit commands | High: plan and act towards a goal |
| Initiative | Just answer | Only responds when asked | It can act without order for each step |
| Integration with systems | Limited (FAQ, scripts) | Media (calendar, reminders) | Complete (APIs, databases, ERP) |
| Example | FAQ bot | Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant | IRIA Iveco, agents of process automation |
What kind of AI does your company need?
Knowing what types of AI there are is the first step. The second is deciding which one solves a specific challenge for your business: a machine learning model to anticipate demand, a generative AI solution to serve your customers, or an agent that automates a process from start to finish. Each company starts from a different point and faces its own challenges. Challenges of Artificial Intelligence applied to the company.
At Imascono we support you in that decision through a Artificial Intelligence consulting Customized: we analyze your case, recommend the solution that best suits you, and help you implement it step by step. If you want to get started, Tell us about your challenge.