Glossary
Generative AI
AI systems that produce text, images, audio, code or other content that resembles material they were trained on.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22
In plain language
Generative AI is an application class, not a legal status. It includes chatbots, image generators and code assistants built on foundation models. Policy issues include synthetic media, copyright, labor displacement, energy use, evaluation of hallucinations, and child-safety. Some jurisdictions have issued generative-AI-specific rules in addition to general AI or data-protection law.
Why it matters for AI governance
Public debate often treats generative AI as synonymous with all AI. Governance needs to keep other high-stakes systems—credit, welfare, policing—in view as well.