IEEE智能系統服務于對智能系統和人工智能感興趣的用戶、管理者、開發人員、研究人員和購買者，特別強調應用。他們通常都是專業人士，有工程、硬科學或商業背景。該出版物強調當前的實踐和經驗，以及可能在不久的將來使用的有前途的新思想。專題文章的示例主題領域包括基于知識的系統、智能軟件代理、自然語言處理、知識管理技術、機器學習、數據挖掘、自適應和智能機器人、網絡上的知識密集型處理以及與智能系統相關的社會問題。此外，還鼓勵應用程序功能，包括一個或多個公司或實驗室的實踐；完整的產品故事（需要至少三個評審員的推薦）；教程；調查；和案例研究。在與主任工程師合作的客座編輯的主持下，期刊通常以主題為基礎，圍繞當代主題收集文章。

IEEE Intelligent Systems serves users, managers, developers, researchers, and purchasers who are interested in intelligent systems and artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on applications. Typically they are degreed professionals, with backgrounds in engineering, hard science, or business. The publication emphasizes current practice and experience, together with promising new ideas that are likely to be used in the near future. Sample topic areas for feature articles include knowledge-based systems, intelligent software agents, natural-language processing, technologies for knowledge management, machine learning, data mining, adaptive and intelligent robotics, knowledge-intensive processing on the Web, and social issues relevant to intelligent systems. Also encouraged are application features, covering practice at one or more companies or laboratories; full-length product stories (which require refereeing by at least three reviewers); tutorials; surveys; and case studies. Often issues are theme-based and collect articles around a contemporary topic under the auspices of a Guest Editor working with the EIC.