📘 Class Notes: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Date: August 7, 2025
Instructor: N/A
Topic: Basics of Artificial Intelligence
🧠 What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are
programmed to think, learn, and problem-solve.
Key Characteristics of AI:
• Learning from data (Machine Learning)
• Reasoning and decision-making
• Natural Language Processing
• Perception (vision, speech, etc.)
• Adaptability
🧩 Types of AI
Type Description Example
Narrow AI Performs specific tasks Siri, Google Maps
General AI Human-level cognition (Not yet achieved)
Superintelligent AI Surpasses human intelligence (Theoretical)
🛠 Core Subfields
1. Machine Learning (ML)
Learning patterns from data to make predictions.
2. Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Enables machines to understand and generate human language.
Examples: ChatGPT, Google Translate
3. Computer Vision
AI that can “see” and interpret visual input.
Examples: Facial recognition, self-driving cars
4. Robotics
Integration of AI in physical machines to perform tasks.
🔁 How Does AI Learn?
• Supervised Learning: Learning from labeled data
• Unsupervised Learning: Finding hidden patterns in data
• Reinforcement Learning: Learning via rewards and punishments
📚 Applications of AI
• Healthcare (e.g., diagnostics)
• Finance (e.g., fraud detection)
• Transportation (e.g., autonomous vehicles)
• Entertainment (e.g., recommendation systems)
• Education (e.g., intelligent tutoring systems)
⚠ Challenges & Ethical Concerns
• Bias in AI models
• Job displacement
• Privacy concerns
• AI safety and control
🧭 Key Takeaways
• AI is transforming every industry.
• Understanding its capabilities and limits is critical.
• Ethics and safety must guide AI development.