Artificial Intelligence Overview

AI is a branch of computer science aiming to create computer systems that mimic human intelligence.
Early concepts of intelligent machines date back to ancient times.
Modern AI research focuses on mimicking human thought processes, understanding speech, and surpassing human capabilities in fields like chess.

Turing's Test: A test proposed by Alan Turing to evaluate machine intelligence.
The Imitation Game (Turing's Test): A test where a judge tries to determine if a human or a machine is communicating. The computer passes the test if the judge cannot reliably distinguish between the two.
The test involves modifying the game from two contestants to one (human or computer), and if the judge cannot distinguish, the computer passes.

Game Playing: Programming computers to play strategy games like chess (Deep Blue, IBM's chess-playing computer, defeated Gary Kasparov).
Speech Recognition: Enabling computers to understand and respond to human speech; it has practical applications for limited tasks but was not fully realised as it was predicted.
Natural Language Understanding: Developing systems capable of understanding human language; still under development, with potential for natural interactions with computers.
Computer Vision: Enabling computers to "see" and understand images and scenes; used for image and object recognition, and is progressing, with limitations in the 3D representation of data compared to humans.
Expert Systems: Programming computers to make decisions in specific fields (e.g., medical diagnosis); not as widely adopted as hoped for.
Heuristic Classification: One type of expert system; used for tasks like evaluating credit card purchases.

Multiple AI-powered websites are available for various tasks like searching, quiz creation, presentation generation, video lessons, audio conversion, mind mapping, and homework assistance.

Rapid Progress: AI capabilities are evolving rapidly due to breakthroughs in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Widespread Adoption: AI is integrated into many everyday technologies, like virtual assistants and autonomous vehicles.
Transformative Potential: AI can revolutionize industries, enhance decision-making, and address global challenges.

Data Acquisition: Gathering and preparing large datasets for training AI models.
Model Training: Using AI algorithms to enable machines to learn from experience.
Deployment: Integrating trained AI models into applications to solve real-world problems.

Language Understanding: Enabling AI systems to interpret human language context.
Multilingual Capabilities: Supporting diverse languages and cultural nuances.
Conversational Abilities: Developing AI chatbots and virtual assistants.
Personalized Interactions: Tailoring responses to individual user needs and preferences.

Image Recognition: Identifying and classifying objects and people in images.
Video Analysis: Understanding video content context.
Augmented Reality (AR): Combining computer vision with AR to overlay digital information.
Medical Imaging: Assisting medical professionals with diagnoses.

Perception: Enabling autonomous systems to interpret their surroundings.
Decision Making: Developing AI algorithms to make decisions and navigate complex environments.
Control: Precisely operating vehicles, robots, and automated machinery.

Bias and Fairness: Addressing biases in AI systems.
Privacy and Security: Protecting user data, implementing robust security measures.
Transparency and Accountability: Establishing clear decision-making processes and mechanisms.
Human-AI Interaction: Ensuring AI technologies enhance human capabilities, not replace them.

Automation and Augmentation: AI enhancing productivity, allowing humans to focus on strategic tasks.
Workforce Transformation: Preparing the workforce for changing job requirements through reskilling and upskilling.
New Job Creation: Generating new job roles and industries centered around AI capabilities.

Data Collection: Ensuring transparency, obtaining informed consent.
Data Storage: Implementing robust security measures against breaches.
Data Usage: Establishing clear guidelines and policies for ethical data analysis.

Continuous Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Persisting Challenges: Addressing bias, privacy, and ethical concerns.
Collaborative Approach: Working together among technologists, policymakers, and ethicists.

Electronic Commerce (EC): A new model of selling and merchandising that uses electronic tools for purchase decisions.
Key Processes: Enabling customers to access products, make selections, buy securely, and receive purchases.
Different Perspectives on EC: Communication, business, service, and online.
Historical Development: Growing from EFT to EDI, Internet use, and online applications.

Merchants: Expanded marketplace, lower costs, reduced time-to-market, improved customer service, efficiency, flexibility.
Consumers: 24/7 availability, wider selection, comparative shopping, lower costs, faster information access.

High development costs, security and privacy concerns, lack of trust, lack of tactile experience.

B2C (Business-to-Consumer): Businesses selling directly to consumers.
- Benefits for Businesses: Lower costs, new opportunities, better data, added services, support, lower costs.
- Benefits for Consumers: Convenience, information, comparison, potentially lower prices, personalized service.
B2B (Business-to-Business): Businesses buying and selling to other businesses.
- Advantages: Reduced costs (purchasing, sales, marketing). Efficient inventory, logistics and lower cycle times, improved customer support.
C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer): Consumers selling directly to other consumers. (e.g., classified ads, auctions)
P2P (Peer-to-Peer): Direct user-to-user file/resource sharing.

Internet: A global network of computer networks carrying data; includes email, video conferencing, among others, and web pages.
Intranet: A private network within an organization to share company information.
Extranet: A private network extending to external businesses or partners for secure collaboration
Web Browsers: Applications accessing and displaying web pages. (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox).
Web Pages: HTML documents displayed by browsers.
Web Sites: Collections of connected web pages.
HTTP and HTML: Key protocols for Web communications and page formatting.
Hypertext: Links between documents.
URL: Unique address for a website page.
Web Servers: Host web pages.

Portals: Combining various internet services like search engines, news, and shopping.
News sites: Provide current events and articles.
Informational sites: Offer factual information.
Business/marketing sites: Promote and sell products/services.
Educational sites: Offer online learning.
Entertainment sites: Offer entertainment content.
Advocacy sites: Convey a particular cause or opinion.
Blogs: Regularly updated journals with personal opinions.
Search Engines: Find website information based on keywords or phrases (e.g., Google, Yahoo).
Search algorithms: Rank pages by relevance (e.g., PageRank).