Monday, January 14, 2013

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 

We’re used to computers performing complex tasks.  Most of what we’re used to depends on the designers of the computer program having anticipated every possibility and defining precise ways for the device to perform.  The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), addresses the extension of these concepts to systems in which we cannot predict every situation that will be encountered.  A robot or autonomous vehicle would be a good example of such a system.

Wikipedia has a good introduction and overview of the field that is relatively up-to-date in this rapidly changing area.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines and robots and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents"[1] where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success.[2] John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1956,[3] defines it as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines."[4]

A much more extensive discussion can be found in the article “What is Artificial Intelligence” by  the inventor of the term “Artificial Intelligence” John McCarthy - 2007

In the short time that we can spend in this class we’re not going to become truly knowledgeable about AI, but we can give some basic structure and address several of the major uses.  Hopefully the applicability to the Intelligent building concept will be plausible.

An Introduction to AI – KQED at Stamford 2008 – 10:10min

The headings that Wikipedia uses for the topic are:

  • Deduction, reasoning, problem solving
  • Knowledge representation
  • Planning
  • Learning
  • Natural language processing
  • Motion and manipulation
  • Perception
  • Social intelligence
  • Creativity
  • General intelligence

Major Sub Areas

Current State of the Art

Predictions for the Future

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