CS 471/571        Introduction to AI     |
Course Description
Welcome! CS 471/571 is an introduction to artificial intelligence, the subfield of computer science. This course will introduce the basic ideas and techniques used in intelligent computer systems. The techniques you learn in this course will serve as the foundation for further study in any AI-related area you pursue. Students have to use Python for course projects.Class Location: 110 WIL
Class Time: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 12pm to 12:50pm Instructor: Prof. Thanh H. Nguyen
Email: thanhhng AT cs.uoregon.edu
Office: Room 303, Deschutes Hall
Office hours: Wednesdays and Fridays, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Please contact me (via email) if you would like to schedule a meeting.
GE-Teaching: TBA
Email: TBA AT uoregon.edu
Office: TBA
Office hours: TBA
Course Material and Syllabus: We will be using Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, 3rd Edition by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig. (The 2nd edition is also acceptable.) The book can be purchased at the bookstore or online.
A printable version of lecture slides will generally be available online within a day or two after the lecture. I do not make them available before class. Often the slides will not include all the information we discuss in class, so the printed slides are not a substitute for attending and participating.
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of this course are:- to understand basic concepts and methods in Artificial Intelligence.
- to apply these AI-based methods for solving different problems.
Draft Schedule (Subject to change)
Week | Description | Readings |
---|---|---|
1 (Sep. 27, 29) | Introduction; Uninformed Search | R&N, Ch. 1-2; Ch. 3.1-3.4 |
2 (Oct. 02, 04, 06) | Informed Search; CSP I | R&N, Ch. 3.5-3.6; Ch. 6.1 |
3 (Oct. 09, 11, 13) | CSP II; Game Trees: Minimax | R&N, Ch. 6.2-6.5; Ch. 5.2-5.5 |
4 (Oct. 16, 18, 20) | Game Trees: Expectimax, Utilities; MDPs I | R&N, Ch. 5.2-5.5, Ch. 16.1-16.3; Ch. 17.1-17.3 |
5 (Oct. 23, 25, 27) | MDPs II; Reinforcement Learning I | R&N, Ch. 17.1-17.3; Ch. 21 |
6 (Oct. 30, Nov. 01, 03) | Reinforcement Learning II; Probabilities | R&N, Ch. 21; Ch. 13.1-13.5 |
7 (Nov. 06, 08, 10) | Bayes Nets: Representation; Veterans Day | R&N, Ch. 14.1-14.2 |
8 (Nov. 13, 15, 17) | Independence; Bayes Nets - Inference | R&N, 14.2-14.4 |
9 (Nov. 20, 22, 24) | Sampling; Thanksgiving | R&N, Ch. 14.5 |
10 (Nov. 27, 29, Dec. 01) | Classification; and Exam Review | R&N, 15.2,6 |
Finals Week | Final exam: 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Monday, Dec 04, 2023. |
Projects
Some projects are more challenging than others. Use Canvas to request additional lab help hours in a week when more help is needed.Due date | Project | Description |
---|---|---|
10/16 | Project 1 | Search |
11/03 | Project 2 | Multi-Agent Search |
11/20 | Project 3 | Reinforcement Learning |
Homework
Due date | Homework | Description |
---|---|---|
10/11 | Homework 1 | Search |
10/25 | Homework 2 | CSPs and Games |
11/08 | Homework 3 | MDPs and RL |
11/27 | Homework 4 | Bayes Nets |
Grading Policy
- Homework: 40%
- Projects: 30%
- Final exam: 30%
Other Resources:
- CS188 from Berkeley. Includes slides, videos, and interactive homework problems (with answers).
- AI class by Peter Norvig and Sebastian Thrun. Includes videos, quizzes, homeworks, and tests.
Classroom Behaviors
All members of the class (both students and instructor) can expect to:Absences
This is a face-to-face course. Attendance is important because we will develop our knowledge through in-class activities that require your active engagement. We'll have discussions, small-group activities, and do other work during class that will be richer for your presence, and that you won't be able to benefit from if you are not there. Excessive absences make it impossible to learn well and succeed in the course. We know our UO community will still be navigating COVID-19, and some students will need to isolate and rest if they get COVID. Please take absences only when necessary, so when they are necessary, your prior attendance will have positioned you for success. Students with COVID are encouraged to seek guidance and resources at UO's COVID-19 Safety Resources webpageBarriers and Accommodations
My goal is a fully inclusive class, accessible to everyone. If you encounter or anticipate barriers to full participation and fair evaluation due to a disability, please communicate your needs to the instructor so that we can find a suitable accommodation. If you encounter or observe other impediments to full participation, for yourself or others, please share your concerns with the instructor. You are also encouraged to contact the Accessible Education Center in 164 Oregon Hall at 541-346-1155 or uoaec@uoregon.edu. The AEC offers a wide range of support services including note-taking, testing services, sign language interpretation and adaptive technologyAccommodations for Religious Observances
The University of Oregon respects the right of all students to observe their religious holidays, and will make reasonable accommodations, upon request, for these observances. If you need to be absent from a class period this term because of a religious obligation or observance, please fill out the Student Religious Accommodation Request fillable PDF form and send it to me within the first weeks of the course so we can make arrangements in advance.Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is expected and cases of suspected dishonesty will be handled according to university policy. In particular, copying someone else's work (including material found on the web) will not be tolerated. If solutions to assignments are obtained from outside sources, the source must be cited.Mandatory Reporter Status
I am a [designated reporter/assisting employee]. For information about my reporting obligations as an employee, please see Employee Reporting Obligations on the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance (OICRC) website. Students experiencing sex or gender-based discrimination, harassment or violence should call the 24-7 hotline 541-346-SAFE [7244] or visit safe.uoregon.edu for help. Students experiencing all forms of prohibited discrimination or harassment may contact the Dean of Students Office at 5411-346-3216 or the non-confidential Title IX Coordinator/OICRC at 541-346-3123. Additional resources are available at UO's How to Get Support webpage. I am also a mandatory reporter of child abuse. Please find more information at Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect.Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Ramakrishnan Durairajan for inspiring the design of this webpage.