What Is AI? A Beginner's Guide to Machine Learning

TL;DR

AI is technology that imitates intelligent behavior through two key traits: autonomy (acting independently) and adaptivity (improving as it analyzes more data). A search engine is AI because it suggests words on its own and learns from past searches, while a calculator is not because it only does what you tell it. This offline-first course teaches beginners to build their own image classifier.

Transcript

This introduction to AI literacy course covers topics such as what AI is, machine learning, how machine learning works, and responsible AI. This course was developed by Henry Lee and the learnai anywhere.org team. This organization focuses on creating accessible offline first AI literacy lessons that educators can use in schools across all types of... Read More

Key Insights

• AI is a field of study about building technology that imitates intelligent behavior, and it is fundamentally a product of human choices rather than a machine that stands against humans.
• Autonomy is a technology's capability to assist or operate independently, and it is one of the two core traits that make a system seem artificially intelligent.
• Adaptivity is a technology's capability to improve as it analyzes more data, and together with autonomy it distinguishes AI from non-AI tools.
• A search engine qualifies as AI because it autonomously suggests words as you type and adaptively improves suggestions by analyzing people's past searches.
• A calculator is not AI because it only does what you tell it, cannot analyze new data, and always works the same way, showing neither autonomy nor adaptivity.
• AI helps people by improving work quality, doing parts of work so users focus elsewhere, and making experiences simpler, as seen in farming and medical tools.
• AI is best understood as a tool, meaning humans remain responsible for deciding how it is used for the things they care about, not something that replaces human judgment.
• Machine learning parallels human exam preparation: a brain (the learner), notes (the data), studying (the process), and a prepared brain (the result) map onto how machines learn from data.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence is a field of study about building technology that imitates intelligent behavior. It came about when curious people wondered how to build aspects of human intelligence into machines. The two key traits that make something seem artificially intelligent are autonomy, meaning the technology can assist or operate independently, and adaptivity, meaning it can improve as it analyzes more data. AI is described as a product of human choices rather than machines opposing humans.

Q: How can you tell if something is AI or not AI?

You determine whether something is AI by checking for two traits: autonomy and adaptivity. A search engine like Google is AI because it autonomously suggests words as you type independently, and it is adaptive because it improves suggestions by analyzing people's past searches. A calculator is not AI because it is not autonomous, since it only does what you tell it and you manually press buttons, and it is not adaptive because it cannot analyze new data and always works the same way.

Q: What is machine learning and how does it work?

Machine learning is explained through the analogy of a human preparing for an exam. When a human studies, they collect information as notes, study those notes by connecting new information to lived experience, and over time develop a more prepared brain ready for the exam. The four parts are the brain that does the learning, the notes which are the information studied, the studying process of connecting new ideas to existing knowledge, and the prepared brain which is the result. This maps onto how machines learn from data.

Q: How does AI help people solve real problems?

AI helps people by improving the quality of their work, doing parts of their work so they can focus on other tasks, and making experiences simpler. Farmers use tools like Plant Village Nuru to photograph plant leaves and learn whether they are sick and how to treat them, and Farmer Chat to get farming advice from a chatbot. Doctors use AI imaging on X-rays to scan for tiny signs of sickness, and Suki takes notes during conversations so doctors can focus more on patients.

Q: What do you need to take this AI course?

You need two main things. First, a device with a webcam, which can be a laptop, tablet, or phone, because it is used to take pictures for designing an image classifier. The app used is called NearPocket, accessible online or offline via Windows and Android apps, though iPhone users must access it through the website. Second, there is an optional project worksheet that guides you to design your AI classifier, but a simple sheet of paper works just as well since the questions are short.

Q: Why is AI considered a tool rather than a replacement for humans?

AI is emphasized as a tool, not to undermine its capabilities but as a reminder that humans are responsible for it. The story people often hear is humans versus AI machines, but the truth is that AI is a product of human choices. Unlike machines, humans choose what they care about, such as their values and communities. People decide how to use AI tools for the things they care about, so responsibility for AI outcomes remains with humans.

Q: What will you build by the end of this AI course?

By the end of the course, you will design your own AI classifier on a theme you choose, such as plant leaves, school supplies, or anything else. Examples students have done include photographing plant leaves from a school garden to distinguish them, taking pictures of materials like glass cups and plastic cups, and even sign language by photographing hand positions to identify letters. After each lesson you record responses on a worksheet, and your teacher may set up an optional presentation day to present your classifier and reasoning.

Q: What are the two key traits that make humans intelligent?

The course identifies two key traits of human intelligence, while noting human intelligence is extremely complex. The first is autonomy, which is a human acting and making decisions on their own. The second is adaptivity, which is a human's ability to learn from experience and improve. Curious people wondered how to build these aspects of intelligence into machines, which led to the creation of the field of artificial intelligence, where machines are given similar traits of autonomy and adaptivity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• This offline-first Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course from learnaianywhere.org teaches AI literacy through four lessons: what AI is, the key parts of machine learning, how machine learning works, and responsible AI. Learners design their own AI image classifier using the NearPocket app and an optional worksheet.

• Lesson one defines AI as technology imitating intelligent behavior through autonomy and adaptivity. A search engine is AI because it suggests words independently and learns from past searches, while a calculator is not AI because it only follows commands and cannot analyze new data.

• AI serves as a tool that helps farmers diagnose sick plant leaves with tools like Plant Village Nuru, helps doctors scan X-rays for tiny signs of illness, and takes notes during patient visits with Suki, freeing people to focus on more important tasks.