Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Prerequisites in terms of knowledge

• Basic data structures and algorithms (incl. stack, priority queue, tree traversal; for example TKT20001 Tietorakenteet ja algoritmit (Data Structures and Algorithms)),
• programming skills in one or more languages (Java or Python recommended), 
• elements of discrete mathematics (set operations, graphs, and vectors), 
• probability calculus (multivariate probability is helpful but not required; for example MAT12003 Todennäköisyyslaskenta I (Probability calculus I))

Student

• can express the basic philosophical problems related to AI (the difficulty in defining AI and consciousness, acting vs thinking, Turing test)
• can distinguish between realistic and unrealistic AI in science-fiction
• can describe the contrast between "Good Old Fashioned AI" (GOFAI) and modern AI approaches
• knows the main stream developments in the history of AI
• can formulate a problem as a graph and apply search algorithms to solve it
• can explain and implement A* search
• can formulate a simple game (such as tic-tac-toe) as a game tree
• can explain and implement the minimax algorithm and depth-limited alpha-beta pruning
• can design a reasonable heuristic evaluation function in a game (e.g., chess)
• can express uncertain knowledge in a simple situation using a probabilistic model
• can apply the Bayes theorem to calculate posterior probabilities given evidence in a simple scenario
• can estimate probability values from a sample
• can represent a problem solving situation as a Bayesian network
• can apply an approximate (Monte Carlo) technique to perform inference in a Bayesian network
• can distinguish between unsupervised and supervised machine learning scenarios
• can implement at least two supervised classification methods (e.g., naive Bayes, nearest neighbour classifier)
• knows the main types of neural networks (feed-forward, recurrent, self-organizing map) and their main principles
• can implement the perceptron algorithm in a simple binary classification problem
• can generate natural language sentences from a context-free grammar
• can parse a sentence using the Cocke-Younger-Kasami algorithm
• appreciates the difficulty of implementing an autonomous robot in the real world
• implements simple functionalities, e.g., following a line on the floor, using a robot with limited sensor capabilities

A separate write-up covering the topics of the course is provided.

Target group

The course is suitable to those, who want an introduction to various aspects of Artificial Intelligence and who have the required computer science and mathematics know-how. 

• The course belongs to the Computers and Cognition module.
• The course is available to students from other degree programmes.
• The course may be offered among the university’s continuous learning courses.
  

Timing

Recommended time/stage of studies for completion:

2nd year or later of the Bachelor degree for Computer Science majors or other students planning to apply to the Data Science Master's programme

1st semester (Autumn) for Data Science Master's students

Term/teaching period when the course will be offered:

Autumn, typically 2nd period

Completion methods

• Contact teaching
• The course requires minimum 50% attendance at the exercise sessions, unless otherwise noted
• Exercises or small projects and course exam

Open University and degree programme completion methods may be different.

Contents

The course gives an introduction to the various aspects of Artificial Intelligence. Each topic will be addressed on an elementary level, but still aiming to achieve concrete skills by studying and implementing practical algorithms. More in-depth treatment of many of the topics is available in follow-up courses.

• the history and philosophy of AI (briefly)
• tree and graph traversal and search algorithms (A* search)
• problem solving using graphs
• games (minimax algorithm, alpha-beta pruning, heuristic evaluation)
• logic in AI (briefly)
• knowledge representation and belief updating using probability (Bayes theorem)
• elements of Bayesian networks
• supervised machine learning (nearest neighbour classifier, naive Bayes)
• neural networks (kinds of neural network, perceptron algorithm)
• natural language processing (sentence parsing, word disambiguation)
• robotics (sensors, actuators, challenges in operating in the real world)

Assessment practices and criteria

• The course is graded on a numerical scale from 0 to 5.
• Grading depends on the completed exercises (about 33% of the grade) and the course exam (about 67% of the grade).

Recommended optional studies

Courses in

• the Computers and Cognition and Machine Learning modules in the Data Science Master's programme, and
• the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence course in the Linguistic Diversity in the Digital Age (LDA) Master's programme.

Activities and teaching methods in support of learning

Lectures and weekly exercise sessions.