General-purpose AI (GPAI)

General-purpose AI (GPAI) can be defined as AI systems that are meant to perform many different tasks, i.e., writing text, translation, analysis of data, generation of images, etc., generally without significant modification or retraining.

Unlike traditional AI, general-purpose AI models are flexible and adaptable, allowing businesses to innovate faster and deploy AI to work across more areas.

GPAI models are learned on large, heterogeneous data sets, and thus can learn about a wide variety of subjects and situations.

This broad set of training enables them to apply their "knowledge" to many real-world tasks, from customer service and research to healthcare, finance, and education.

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Why GPAI?

General-purpose AI is redefining the way businesses work by making automation simpler, quicker, and at scale.

It helps teams:

- Save time and improve productivity

- Lower development cost (since one AI can do several jobs)

- Easier innovation across departments

Responsible Use

As GPAI can be used in so many diverse and even unexpected ways, it also raises new challenges, such as bias, misinformation, and data privacy risks.

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Responsible businesses offset these through the form of strong AI governance practices that define how AI models should be created, monitored, and used.

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With these practices, companies can:

- Make AI output ethical, fair, and compliant

- Reduce risks of bias or misuse

- Align AI actions with company and regulatory requirements

This balanced approach helps organizations unlock the full potential of general purpose AI while maintaining accountability and trust.

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