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AI - A Gentle Introduction

This document provides a gentle introduction to artificial intelligence (AI). It explains that AI is the study of making machines intelligent and able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Some key points made include: - AI is considered a branch of computer science as computers can be programmed to perform intelligent tasks like solving math problems or controlling equipment. - The ultimate goal of AI is to create intelligent machines that can think, decide, solve problems, plan and learn like humans. However, defining and measuring intelligence is challenging. - The document discusses some of the techniques used in AI like heuristic search, expert systems, natural language processing, and neural networks. It also outlines some milestones in AI's development.

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54 views51 pages

AI - A Gentle Introduction

This document provides a gentle introduction to artificial intelligence (AI). It explains that AI is the study of making machines intelligent and able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Some key points made include: - AI is considered a branch of computer science as computers can be programmed to perform intelligent tasks like solving math problems or controlling equipment. - The ultimate goal of AI is to create intelligent machines that can think, decide, solve problems, plan and learn like humans. However, defining and measuring intelligence is challenging. - The document discusses some of the techniques used in AI like heuristic search, expert systems, natural language processing, and neural networks. It also outlines some milestones in AI's development.

Uploaded by

krnathan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

A Gentle, Jargon-Free Introduction

K. Raghunathan
Chartered Engineer
FIETE, MIE, MCSI, MISTE, MISTD, MIIMM
Retd Dy Controller (R&D) [MoD]
Section 1
What is AI ?

• Study/Science of
– Intelligent Machines
– Making Machines Intelligent
AI & Computers
• Computers seem to have some Intelligence
– Solve Math problems [Arithmetic, Algebra, Calculus,
Geometry etc]
– Do text processing
– Control Eqpt & Processes in Industry
– Communicate
• Natural Belief : computers can be made more
intelligent
• So, AI is considered a Branch of Computer
Science
Machines & Humans
• Right from Cavemen, humans are
inventing new Tools, Instruments &
Machines
– To do all our hard work
– Even for entertainment
– To reduce/avoid our physical/mental strain
Human Tasks
• What are our everyday tasks ?

– Professional

– Personal
Functions of our Sensory Organs
• Eye
– See
• Ear
– Hear
• Tongue / Mouth
– Taste, Speak
• Nose
– Smell, Breathe
• Skin / Limbs
– Feel, do Physical Work – Walk, Climb, Lift, Throw, Eat etc
Sixth Sense
• Comprehend [Understand]
– Vision
– Language
• Remember
• Plan
• Decide
• Learn
• Emote
Brain & Mind
• Concrete & Abstract
• Tangible & Intangible
• Similar to Computer
• Like Hardware & Software
What we still do ourselves ?
• Logical Thinking & Reasoning
• Making wise decisions
– often with Incomplete, Vague & Uncertain
facts at hand

AI attempts to fill this gap


Intelligent Machines
• Machines that can
– Think
– Decide
– Solve
– Plan
– Learn
• Thinking Machines
• Artificial Intelligence
Can Machines Think ?
• Some believe so & some don’t

• What Level of Intelligence will make a


Machine qualify as Intelligent Machine or
Thinking Machine ?

• The Turing Test


The Turing Test
The Turing Test
• A machine can be deemed intelligent
• If it can make a human think that
• he/she is talking to a human
• & not to a machine
Intelligent Machines

• A machine can be considered Intelligent


• if it can solve complex problems
• requiring a high level of intelligence
• normally found only in human beings
AI – Science or Art ?
• Science
– Multi-disciplinary & Inter-disciplinary
• Art
– Very Intricate Fine Art
– Like Painting & Sculpting

• Science
– involves designing machines
• Art
– involves programming
Inputs to AI
• Maths [Symbolic Logic]
• Physiology [Working of Body Parts of Living
Organisms]
• Philosophy & Psychology [Human Logic &
Behaviour]
• Cognitive Science [Perception, Understanding]
• Cybernetics [Communication & Control in
Animals & Machines]
• Electronics [Making Machines]
• Computer Science [Programming the Machine's
Behaviour]
AI’s Output

• Used by almost all Sciences


– Including Computer Science

• Maximum dependency on AI
– Robotics & Neural Networks
– Considered part of AI
Section 2
Back to Square One

What is Intelligence ?

Let us have your Opinions please


Intelligence
• Abstract
• Eludes accurate, comprehensive definition
• Easier to understood than to define

• Seems to be directly proportional to


Knowledge
Intelligence (cont’d)

• The Albert Einstein Anecdote


Intelligence (contd)
• Knowledge [Lots of it !]
• Ability to put knowledge to use

• Pertains to what we can do with our 5


Senses
• Pertains more to what we can do with our
6th Sense !
What is Knowledge ?
Anybody wish to define ?
Knowledge
• Abstract
• Eludes accurate, comprehensive definition
• Easier to understand than to define

• AI has to deal with various aspects of


Knowledge
Knowledge (contd)
• Classification
• Representation [including Storage in
Computer Memory]
• Acquisition [Learning]
• Manipulation
– Searching & Matching
– Reasoning [Inference, Drawing Conclusions,
Decision Making, Problem Solving]
• Planning
Classification of Knowledge

• Factual or Procedural
• Certain or Uncertain
• Consistent or Inconsistent [vary with time,
place, person or situation]
• Well-Defined [Crisp] or Vague [Fuzzy]
• Complete or Incomplete [Partial]
Reasoning Techniques
• Depend on the Type of Knowledge being
dealt with
• Certain, consistent & crisp : Predicate
Logic
• Uncertain : Probablistic Reasoning
• Inconsistent : Truth Maintenance Systems
• Fuzzy : Fuzzy Logic
• Partial : Statistical & Probablistic
Reasoning
Reasoning Techniques (cont’d)
• Ad hoc Methods

– Closed World Assumption


– Circumscription
– Abductive Reasoning
– Modal & Temporal Logics
Learning Methods

• By Rote [by Reading]


• By being Taught
• From Experience
• By Analogy [From Examples]
• By Drawing Conclusions
– From other known Facts
What Humans are Good at
An Interactive Experiment

2
What Humans are Good at

• Humans seem to be good at


– Reasoning with Uncertain, Fuzzy & Partial
Knowledge
– Learning from Experience & Examples
• AI Research pays more attention to these
Areas
AI Techniques
• Procedures & Algorithms employed in AI
• Compared to those used in other Sciences
– Not merely Formulae
– Use different approaches
– More efficient, effective & intelligent
– Profuse use of Heuristics
• Heuristic
– “Educated Guess”
– Born out of Past Experience
Heuristics

- An Interactive Experiment
[opening a book at a desired page]
Heuristic Search Techniques
• Many Methods available

• Most Noteworthy are:


– A*
– MiniMax with Alpha-Beta Pruning
Expert Systems
&
Decision Support Systems
• A Speciality of AI
• Very High Level of Intelligence & Domain
Knowledge
• a Level normally found only in Experts in
that Field
Expert Systems

Search
Engine Query
User

Knowledge Match
Inter
Logic
face
Base

Inference Response

Logic
Section 3
Miscellaneous Topics
• Miscellaneous, but nevertheless Essential

• Automation
– Useful in Hazardous Environs
• Computer Vision
– Object Recognition
• Natural Language Processing
• Pattern Recognition & Pattern Classification
– Data Mining, Image Processing
• Guide/Help/Rescue
• Weather/Business Forecasting
• Neural Networks
Vision
• Object Recognition
• Range Estimation
• Emotion Recgnition
Natural Language Processing
• Vocabulary
• Ambiguity
– Human Languages are Context-Sensitive
– One word having many meanings
– Many words having same/similar meaning
– Accent varies from place to place
• Real Life Examples
• Feelings/Emotions
AI Milestones
• Too many to list here
• Early days of AI
– Mycin - Medical Diagnosis
– R - Design of Computer HW Architecture
– Deep Blue - Chess Champion
– Eliza - Conversationist
– Racter - Writes Books
AI Milestones (2)
• Modern days:

• Expert Systems & Decision Support Systems in


a wide range of fields
– especially Medicine, Finance & Entertainment
• Wide range of Medical Eqpt - CAT Scan etc
• Analysis & Prediction - Economics, Stockmarket,
Agriculture, Genetics, Elections
• 3D Computer Games & Walk-throughs
• Helpful Robots - Rescue, Operating in
Hazardous environments
AI Milestones (3)
• Spell-Check & Word Completion
facility in Text Processing Programs
• Voice Commands to open/close files etc
• Programs to read text, to teach Languages
• 3D & Walk-Through Games/Presentations
Basic Hurdle
• Intelligent Machine = Thinking Machine

• To make a machine think, act & react like a


human:
• We should first understand how humans think,
act & react
• Why a person thinks, acts & reacts in a particular
way
• Why different persons think, act & react
differently
• Why same person thinks, acts & reacts differently
at different times, even if situations are similar
Basic Hurdle (cont’d)

• Real life examples


– Bernard Shaw & Isadora Duncan Episode
– Once I took my wife to a movie ….
Basic Hurdle (cont’d)
• Unfortunate Reality for AI scientists
• God Almighty has a habit of making
humans
– so varied,
– so un-understandable
– so unpredictable !
• Given such a starting point
– How are we going to make machines that
would behave like humans ?
Basic Hurdle (cont’d)
• Everyone says “AI is a difficult subject".
– Not only Students, even Faculty say so
– except the Enthusiastic & Optimistic AI
Researcher, of course

• The Ground Reality is:


– Humans are so difficult to understand !

• WE are our own Hurdles !


Concluding Remarks
• In spite of the Enormity of the Obstacles, AI
marches ahead, relentlessly
• The progress is slow
• New Findings & Achievements are Sporadic, few
& far between
• But that is no reason to lose hope
– We have achieved many things, which were once
considered impossible
– We have set foot on the Moon
• Let us hope that one day we will see
The Ultimate Intelligent Machine
Any Questions ?
Thank You !

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