The central problems (or goals) of Artificial Intelligence research include reasoning, knowledge, planning, learning, communication, and perception.
Wikipedia: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that studies and develops systems that can perceive their environment and take actions that maximize the chances of success.
Currently popular approaches include statistical methods, computational intelligence and traditional symbolic AI. There are an enormous number of tools used in AI, including versions of search and mathematical optimization, logic, methods based on probability and economics, and many others.
