Course description - from the catalog

This course introduces the fundamental problems, theories and algorithms of the artificial intelligence field. Topics covered include: heuristic search and game trees; knowledge representation using predicate calculus; automated deduction and its applications; problem solving and planning; introduction to machine learning. Required coursework includes the creation of working programs that solve problems, reason logically, and/or improve their own performance using techniques presented in the course.
Prerequisite: Java (Lisp optional)

Your immediate responsibilities in this course

Important details about your responsibilities are here . The topics discussed there are:

• Get a copy of the textbook immediately and begin the assigned readings.
• Sign up for the course mailing list immediately.
• Use the proper form for all course-related email you send me.
• You are responsible for reading the course website pages, including updates that I alert you to.

News and Notes

Follow the links on the left for details.

8 April 2007: There will be no Assignment #5.

8 April 2007: An update on what is needed for your final project report has been posted.

7 January 2007: All the most important pages have been posted to the website. There will changes and additions to them as the course proceeds.

13 December 2006: The course website is not complete at this early date. Links in square brackets are to pages not yet posted.

13 December 2006: Grading: Details are forthcoming, but roughly, credit will be divided between quizzes and exams, homework, and each of the three handins for your project.

• The use of a major AI system such as the WEKA machine learning system, the Protégé system for knowledge representation, or the OTTER theorem prover.
• A programming project, which could be in Java, Lisp, Prolog, or Python. It should be focused on a substantial domain, not what I consider a toy domain such as a board game or card game.
• A written report involving no programming. This is the exception, and will require justification.
• Working more collaboratively with me, Professor Futrelle, on a project related to my research in the Biological Knowledge Laboratory. The major projects in the lab revolve around the development of a new purely object-oriented approach to natural language understanding and work on diagram understanding, using papers from the biomedical literature.

24 December 2006: The initial course pages have been posted on the web. Some are essentially finished, some are in draft form, and some are not yet posted.