system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Can someone help me understand what the difference is between an actual infinite and a potential infinite?
gpt
Okay, so the difference is really between process and object. A potential infinity is a non-terminating process in which, theoretically, one can simply add or divide or multiply in perpetuity, but if one were to stop at any given point, one would arrive at a finite point. 

Actual infinity pertains to objects that are infinite in nature or defined infinite. For example, the set of whole numbers. The set itself is an object that is infinite by definition but can be treated a single set, this is helpful when deriving implications of the object. 

A non-mathematical example would be a collection of all possible universes.  

I hope that helps.