What term describes the simulation of human cognitive functions such as learning and problem-solving by machines?

The term that best describes the simulation of human cognitive functions such as learning and problem-solving by machines is artificial intelligence (AI). AI encompasses a broad range of technologies and methodologies that enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes not just learning and problem-solving, but also reasoning, understanding natural language, and recognizing patterns, among other cognitive functions.

In the context of the options provided, while machine learning is a key subset of AI that focuses specifically on algorithms and statistical models allowing machines to learn from and make predictions based on data, it does not encompass all aspects of cognition as broadly as artificial intelligence does. Deep learning is a specialized approach within machine learning that uses neural networks to analyze various forms of data, but again, it is not synonymous with the overall concept of simulating human cognitive functions. Cognitive processing could refer to specific methods related to AI that mimic cognitive behaviors but would not capture the full range of capabilities that AI represents. Therefore, artificial intelligence is the term that best fits the description of replicating human-like cognitive abilities in machines.