- An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Finlay J. & Dix A (1996), UCL Press. (Essential reading)
The remaining texts are recommended for background reading
- Minds, Brains & Computers: perspectives in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Morelli, Brown, Anselmi, Haberlandt & Lloyd (1992).
- Artifical Minds, Franklin S. (1995), MIT Press.
- Computers & Thought, Sharples M. et al (1989), MIT Press.
- Artificial Intelligence, Luger G. F. & Stubblefield W. A. (1998), Addison-Wesley-Longman, Reading USA.

The School of Computing's AI Bulletin Board system, various computer workstations running AI software packages, access to the internet and the University Library.

A combination of one theoretical lecture and one practical lecture per week in conjunction with approximately 4-5 hours of independent study per week. The theory-lecture will formally introduce new material and ideas. The weekly practically-oriented lecture is a mandatory part of the module's learning program in which a member of staff will present practical demonstrations of the theories and principles introduced in that week. In most cases, the practically-oriented lecture will be the only opportunity for you to acquire the necessary skills/instruction to facilitate the required level of independent study!

Within this module you will be introduced to and/or be able to develop your

- Intellectual skills
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Personal skills for Lifelong Learning

1. Identify the wide variety of problems addressed and some of the techniques used in AI.
2. Compare at least two different approaches to problem solving within AI.
3. Identify the major areas of debate within the field of AI and give an account of some of the important features of the debate.

This module will also give you opportunity to demonstrate the following skills:

(a) Assimilate, evaluate and analyse information as a result of independent or group research

This module is intended to give an introduction to a broad range of Artificial Intelligence (AI) topics. After reviewing the history of AI and some attempts to understand the mind and human intelligence, the module moves on to address particular AI domains such as search, game playing, knowledge and learning, natural language processing, intelligent agents, symbolic reasoning and sub-symbolic problem solving.
Some practical applications of AI are explored in terms of expert systems, machine learning and neural networks.
In addition to a wide-ranging exploration of AI problems the module offers a comparative account of the AI approach to thinking about problems and what is currently known about human intelligence and problem solving.

A ASSIGNMENT weighted at 50%. A EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS length 1 HOUR(S) weighted at 50%.

1. Exam (50%) (Learning outcome 1,a)
2. Practical problem solving using AI methods and tools (50%) (Learning outcome 2,3,a)