Class Notes – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Lecture 1 – What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the study of systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like
intelligence.
We introduced the history of AI, from symbolic reasoning to modern machine learning.
Topics:
- Definitions of intelligence
- Turing Test and early AI programs
- Rational agents and environment models
Discussion:
– Can machines truly “think”?
– The difference between narrow AI and general AI.
Lecture 2 – Search Algorithms
We examined the role of search in problem-solving.
Search is a fundamental component of AI planning and optimization.
Key Algorithms:
- Breadth-first search (BFS)
- Depth-first search (DFS)
- Uniform cost search
- A* algorithm and heuristics
Example:
Pathfinding in a maze and cost-based decision making.
Lecture 3 – Knowledge Representation
Knowledge representation (KR) enables machines to reason symbolically.
Topics:
- Propositional and predicate logic
- Semantic networks
- Frames and ontologies
Discussion:
– Trade-offs between expressiveness and efficiency.
– Logic inference using resolution.
Lecture 4 – Reasoning and Inference
We studied reasoning methods, including deductive and probabilistic reasoning.
Concepts:
- Modus ponens and modus tollens
- Bayesian inference
- Markov models
Example:
Weather prediction using conditional probabilities.
Lecture 5 – Machine Learning Fundamentals
Machine learning allows computers to learn from data instead of explicit programming.
Learning Types:
- Supervised
- Unsupervised
- Reinforcement
Algorithms:
– Linear regression
– Decision trees
– Neural networks
Homework:
Implement a simple classifier and test it on the Iris dataset.
Lecture 6 – Deep Learning
Deep learning is a subfield of machine learning focused on neural networks with many layers.
Concepts:
- Perceptrons and activation functions
- Backpropagation algorithm
- Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)
- Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs)
Applications:
– Image recognition, speech processing, NLP.
Lecture 7 – Natural Language Processing
NLP is the field of AI that deals with understanding and generating human language.
Topics:
- Tokenization and stemming
- Part-of-speech tagging
- Transformers and attention mechanisms (BERT, GPT)
Discussion:
– Ethical issues in language models.
– Bias and data quality concerns.
Lecture 8 – Computer Vision
Computer Vision enables machines to interpret visual information.
Key Topics:
– Image filtering and feature extraction
– Object detection and segmentation
– Optical flow and 3D reconstruction
Applications:
– Autonomous vehicles
– Medical imaging analysis
Lecture 9 – Robotics and Reinforcement Learning
Reinforcement Learning (RL) models learning as interaction with an environment to maximize
rewards.
Key Concepts:
- Agent, environment, state, action, reward
- Q-learning and policy gradients
- Exploration vs exploitation
Example:
Training a robotic arm to reach a target position.
Lecture 10 – Ethics and Future of AI
As AI becomes integrated into society, ethical considerations are paramount.
Topics:
– Bias, fairness, and transparency
– AI governance and accountability
– Impact of automation on employment
Final Thoughts:
AI is not just a technical field but a multidisciplinary domain shaping our future.