Is Artificial Intelligence Capitalized? A Grammar Check.

Should “artificial intelligence” be capitalized in 2026? Short answer: usually no.

In most professional style guides, artificial intelligence is a common noun and stays lowercase, while the abbreviation AI is capitalized. But there are important exceptions (titles, proper names, branded products, course names, and departments).

Here’s a clean, future-proof guide—plus examples, edge cases, and a handy style-by-style table you can copy into your editorial wiki. ✍️????

???? Tip: Default to lowercase artificial intelligence and uppercase AI. Capitalize only when grammar or naming rules require it (e.g., titles, proper nouns, branded initiatives).

Quick Answer + One-Minute Rules

Form	Write it like this	When	Examples
General term	artificial intelligence	Common noun in running text	“We use artificial intelligence for forecasting.”
Abbreviation	AI	Established initialism	“Our AI model improved accuracy.”
Title case (headlines)	Artificial Intelligence	Per your title-casing rules	“Artificial Intelligence Trends in 2026”
Proper names	Department of Artificial Intelligence; Google AI	Official entities/brands	“She joined the Department of Artificial Intelligence.”
Course or program	Artificial Intelligence 201	Specific, formal course title	“I’m enrolled in Artificial Intelligence 201.”
Adjectival use	artificial-intelligence-powered (rare)	Hyphenate only when needed for clarity	“An artificial-intelligence-powered assistant.”

What Major Style Guides Say (2026)

Style	“artificial intelligence”	“AI”	Notes
AP Stylebook	lowercase	uppercase	Capitalize in headlines per headline style; lowercase in running text unless start of sentence.
Chicago (CMOS)	lowercase	uppercase	Capitalize in proper names and titles; otherwise lowercase common nouns.
APA (7th)	lowercase	uppercase	Spell out first mention with abbreviation in parentheses: artificial intelligence (AI).
MLA	lowercase	uppercase	Capitalize in titles per title case; lowercase in prose.
IEEE	lowercase	uppercase	Acronyms in caps after first use; capitalize in specific system names.

Think of it like “machine learning,” “cloud computing,” or “quantum computing”: all lowercase in prose, but capitalized in titles or when part of a named entity.

Capitalization Decision Tree (Copy/Paste to Your Playbook)

1. Is it a sentence start? → Capitalize the first letter: Artificial intelligence is…
2. Is it a headline/title? → Follow your title-case or sentence-case rules (often “Artificial Intelligence”).
3. Is it a proper name? → Capitalize all appropriate words: Stanford Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Google AI.
4. Otherwise → Lowercase in running text: artificial intelligence; use AI after first mention.

???? Tip: On first reference in formal writing, use artificial intelligence (AI). After that, use AI—it improves readability and is standard in 2026.

Examples You Can Model

• Running text (general concept): “We applied artificial intelligence to triage support tickets.”
• Abbreviation: “Our AI triage reduced response time by 32%.”
• Proper name: “She works at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.”
• Brand: “Google AI released a new multimodal model.”
• Title case (headline): “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Risks and Rewards.”
• Course/program: “He’s teaching Artificial Intelligence 201 this fall.”

When Capital Letters Are Warranted

1. Official entities: Departments, institutes, labs, centers (Department of Artificial Intelligence).
2. Product names: Branded initiatives or tools (Azure AI, Google AI).
3. Headlines/titles: Per your capitalization rules.
4. Specific systems/models: Capitalize their given names (Gemini, Claude, GPT-4); keep the generic descriptor lowercase (an artificial intelligence system named Gemini).

Outside of these cases, resist the urge to capitalize. Over-capitalization can read like marketing rather than clear technical writing.

Common Missteps (and Fixes)

• ❌ Artificial Intelligence (capitalized) in mid-sentence → ✅ artificial intelligence
• ❌ A.I. with periods → ✅ AI (periods are dated in tech/editorial contexts)
• ❌ Random title caps in prose (“Artificial Intelligence is…”) → ✅ Reserve caps for titles/Proper Names
• ❌ Switching between AI, Ai, and ai → ✅ Pick one (AI) and be consistent

Should You Ever Stylize “A.I.”?

Most modern outlets (tech, academic, and product documentation) standardize on AI without periods. Only mirror “A.I.” if you are quoting or matching a publication’s house style. Otherwise, use AI.

Bonus: Keep Your AI Pros/Cons Snappy (Optional Sidebar)

Pros ????	Cons ????
Efficiency & scale (automation, lower latency)	Job displacement & re-skilling needs
Innovation (science, medicine, accessibility)	Bias & fairness risks (data, design)
Personalization (CX, learning, care)	Privacy & surveillance concerns
Predictive analytics & decision support	Over-reliance / erosion of human skills
Complex problem-solving (climate, health)	Governance & accountability questions

???? Tip: If your org insists on capitalizing “Artificial Intelligence,” document that in your house style and apply it consistently everywhere (articles, UI copy, decks, legal).

In 2026, the clean, professional convention is: lowercase “artificial intelligence,” uppercase “AI.” Capitalize only for titles, sentence starts, proper names, and brands—and be ruthlessly consistent across your site, docs, and decks.

???? Editorial Macro: Add a line to your house style: “Use ‘artificial intelligence (AI)’ on first use; ‘AI’ thereafter. Lowercase ‘artificial intelligence’ in running text; capitalize only in titles and proper names.”

Conclusion

Should artificial intelligence be capitalized? Picture this: You’re writing an article about artificial intelligence, and you’ve just come across a problem. You’re not sure whether to capitalize “artificial intelligence” or not. It’s a common question, one that many people struggle with.

So, is artificial intelligence capitalized?

Let’s take a closer look.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is generally not capitalized unless it’s at the beginning of a sentence or in a title. But hey, AI is pretty cool and maybe deserves some capital letters now and then! Let’s dive into a quick table of pros and cons, complete with emojis for that extra flair:

Pros of AI ????	Cons of AI ????
Efficiency ⚡	Job Displacement ????????
AI can process and analyze data much faster than humans, leading to increased efficiency in various fields.	AI can replace certain jobs, especially those involving repetitive tasks, which could lead to unemployment.
Innovation ????	Bias and Discrimination ????↔️
AI drives innovation in technology, medicine, and many other fields, leading to groundbreaking advancements.	AI systems can inherit biases from their human creators, potentially leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes.
Personalization ????	Privacy Concerns ????️‍♂️????
From online shopping to healthcare, AI can offer personalized experiences and solutions based on individual data.	The data used to train AI can infringe on personal privacy, and AI tools can be used for intrusive surveillance.
Predictive Analytics ????	Dependence on Technology ????❗
AI can predict trends and patterns in vast amounts of data, useful in weather forecasting, stock markets, and more.	Over-reliance on AI might reduce human skills and critical thinking abilities.
Problem-solving ????	Ethical Concerns ????????
AI can solve complex problems, from climate change modeling to medical diagnoses, more efficiently than humans.	The development and deployment of AI raise ethical questions about control, responsibility, and rights.

Remember, AI, like any technology, is a tool. It’s up to us how we use it!

Capitalization can be a tricky thing.

There are rules and guidelines to follow, but they’re not always clear-cut. When it comes to artificial intelligence, there are differing opinions on whether it should be capitalized or not. Some people capitalize it all the time, while others only capitalize it in certain circumstances.

So, what’s the right answer?

The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

It depends on the context and the style guide you’re following. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you make the right decision.

FAQ: Capitalization & Editorial Edge Cases