CCU: Overview

A hand holds a holographic-type image of technology with AI highlighted in the middle.Concepts, Capabilities and Uses of AI: Overview

Introduction

Wow, isn't it exciting to be alive right now? We're the generation that's connecting the past with the future! In the next 5-10 years, the way we use technology is going to change a lot—it'll look, feel, and sound completely different from what we're used to today. And guess what? This big change is happening right now, as we speak!

It doesn't matter if you think AI (Artificial Intelligence) is good, bad, or something in between—we're all going to be affected by the ways AI is going to change things like farming, transportation, healthcare, and even music, sports, and school.

This course is all about helping you understand what AI really is, the 'Five Big Ideas of AI,' how we use it today, and how it's going to impact our lives and our world. Let's explore this awesome technology together!

Learning Questions

  1. What is AI?
  2. What are the basic concepts of the ‘Five Big Ideas of AI’?
  3. How are Computer Science (CS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) interconnected?
  4. What are some modern applications of AI?
  5. In what ways is AI applied in various career fields?
  6. What are the societal impacts of AI?
  7. How can negative consequences of AI be reduced?
  8. How does AI impact various career fields?

Key Terms

  • Algorithm: a set of steps or instructions used to achieve a desired goal
  • AI (Artificial Intelligence): a branch of computer science concerned with techniques for getting computers to do things that normally require human intelligence to do (e.g., decision-making, problem-solving, planning.
  • Autonomous: Self-determined, aware of the world, self-governed, ability to set goals and choose actions to achieve those goals. Ability to operate independently without being remotely controlled.
  • Perception: Extraction of meaning from sensory An old-fashioned camera records images by sensing light, but it does not “see”. (Some digital cameras with built-in face detection do “see” to a limited extent.)
  • Representation: a way of encoding For example, a map is a representation of a territory. A piece of sheet music is a representation of a melody. Computers use various types of representations to encode and manipulate many kinds of information.
  • Robot: a type of automated machine that can execute specific tasks with little or no human intervention

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