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Week 1: Fundamentals of AI

1 min read (180 words)
#AI  #machine learning  #foundations 

Week 1: Fundamentals of AI#

Focus: What is AI/ML? Brief history and overview

📚 Required Readings#

Primary Readings#

  1. “Artificial Intelligence: A Brief History” (15 min read)

    • Overview of AI development from symbolic AI to modern machine learning
    • Key figures and pivotal moments in AI research

  2. “What is Machine Learning?” (20 min read)

    • Difference between AI and machine learning
    • Supervised vs. unsupervised learning basics
    • Real-world examples of ML applications

Supplementary Resources#

  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Artificial Intelligence (link) — Philosophical foundations
  • “A Very Short Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” — Excerpts (10 min)

💭 Discussion Prompts#

Before class, consider these questions as you read:

  1. How do you currently encounter AI in your daily life?
  2. What misconceptions about AI do these readings challenge?
  3. What questions remain unanswered about AI fundamentals?

📝 Preparation for Class#

  • Identify 2-3 examples of AI or machine learning from the past week in the news
  • Jot down what you’d like to understand better about how AI works
  • Note any terms that were unclear and bring questions to class

🔗 Related Assignment#

See Week 1 Assignment for this week’s task.