Unit 1: Intelligent Agents and Problems of AI
AI is often seen through the autonomous, rational intelligent agents paradigm, which we will emphasize in this unit. This unit will begin by discussing what software agents are and how agents differ from programs in general. The unit will then provide a natural taxonomy of autonomous agents and discusses possibilities for further classification before presenting those problems in AI that seem to received the most attention. The problem of creating intelligence is then broken down into a number of specific sub-problems, which consist of particular traits that should be found in an intelligent system. Note that different researchers approach the problems of AI from different perspectives, depending on their respective training, fields of expertise, and favored tools.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 28 hours.