When people spend time online, either browsing the internet or communicating with others, their activity helps fill gaps in the machines' knowledge.

This helps computers make associations between words, images and ideas, helping them to make sense of complicated text, improve their language translation, or identify pictures.

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Professor David Roberton of Edinburgh University said the rise in artificial intelligence is helping computer scientists develop smarter search engines and technologies that can adapt to suit the needs of users.

It will help speed the arrival of the internet of things, in which everyday objects, such as domestic appliances and cars, use the web to connect with users and with each other to operate efficiently and smartly, researchers will say.

Further improvements in artificial intelligence could help computers interact with people in a more intelligent way. Computer programmes are now on a par with humans in performing routine tasks - so much so that software is used to check that interactions are being performed by people rather than robots, researchers say.

Prof Robertson, Professor of Applied Logic at the university's School of Informatics, will join Dr Gautam Shroff, chief scientist for Tata Consultancy Services Research in India, in a discussion about artificial intelligence at the Edinburgh International Science Festival today. (monj)

Prof Robertson said: "Artificial intelligence is not a new concept, but we are at the stage of making big developments in smart machines - and the new ingredient in the mix is us. People are connected across the globe like never before, and society is becoming part of the solution to the challenge of developing ever-smarter technologies and tools."

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Web use is leading to rise in so-called smart machines