About Course

Explore the evolution, theory and impact of artificial intelligence in this comprehensive beginner-friendly AI course.

You’ll trace Artificial Intelligence’s origins from ancient myths and philosophical debates and discover how the idea of intelligent machines became reality through milestones like symbolic AI, neural networks, machine learning and today’s generative AI models.

Explore the psychological, neuroscientific and mathematical roots of intelligence, meet pivotal thinkers (from Descartes and Turing to Marvin Minsky), and get up to speed on ethical issues, real-world applications and the future of AI.

Who is this for?

Anyone curious about how AI works, where it came from and where it’s going – no prior technical background required. Perfect for students, professionals and lifelong learners who want to understand both the technical and societal impact of AI.

Complete the course and quizzes to earn your free NORAI Connect certificate.

 

Based on Victor A. Lausas’ acclaimed book, “Artificial Intelligence Made Unlocked” (ISBN 978-952-88-0520-5), this course distils the essentials for anyone ready to understand and apply AI in the real world. If you prefer to read the book instead, you can also get the book for free for a limited time:

Subscribe to the North Atlantic newsletter and download your free copy of Artificial Intelligence Made Unlocked: From Logic to Learning for FREE!

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The book is also on shelves at Lulu for 19.99€.

 

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What Will You Learn?

  • Understand what AI is - and isn’t
  • Understand the difference between symbolic and machine learning approaches
  • Identify major milestones in AI history
  • Recognise real-world uses of AI (and their challenges)
  • Spot ethical issues and future trends in artificial intelligence

Course Content

Understanding Intelligence
Explore the foundations of intelligence - what it means in humans, animals and machines. Discover psychological, neuroscientific and philosophical perspectives and compare the core attributes across different forms of intelligence.

  • What Is Intelligence?
  • Comparative Intelligence – Humans, Animals and Machines

Philosophical & Historical Roots
Dive into the philosophical debates and early human aspirations that shaped our vision of intelligent machines. From the mind-body problem to ancient automata, trace how our dreams of artificial beings evolved through myth, philosophy and engineering marvels.

Mathematical & Scientific Foundations
Uncover the mathematical breakthroughs and scientific concepts that underpin AI, including Boolean logic, Gödel’s theorems and Turing’s computation. See how these ideas set the stage for programmable machines and formal AI research.

The First Wave of AI – Symbolic AI & Expert Systems
Learn about the rise (and limitations) of early AI - symbolic reasoning, rule-based systems and expert systems that mimicked specialist decision-making. Understand the causes of the first "AI winter" and what researchers learned from it.

The Second Wave – Connectionism & Neural Networks
See how the revival of neural networks and connectionist thinking brought new hope to AI. Explore key breakthroughs like the backpropagation algorithm and real-world applications of neural nets in the 1980s and 90s.

From Rules to Learning – Machine Learning and Big Data
Trace the shift from rigid rule-based systems to flexible, data-driven machine learning. Understand how big data and improved computational power enabled AI systems to adapt and improve, leading to widespread adoption.

Deep Learning, Transformers & Generative AI
Explore the AI revolution sparked by deep learning (AlexNet), the rise of transformers and generative models like GPT. Discover how these technologies are transforming language, vision and creativity.

AI in the Real World
See how artificial intelligence is being applied across industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and entertainment, with real-world case studies illustrating its practical impact.

Ethics, Society and the Future of AI
Examine the ethical challenges and societal impacts of AI, including bias, privacy, job displacement and the frameworks guiding responsible AI. Look ahead to Artificial General Intelligence and the interdisciplinary efforts shaping AI’s future.

Final Assessment
Test your knowledge with the "AI Foundations Challenge" - a comprehensive quiz covering the entire course. Passing the quiz earns you your official NORAI Connect certificate. An 80% score is required to pass, and you have unlimited attempts.

Earn a FREE certificate on completion!

Add this certificate to your resume to demonstrate your skills & increase your chances of getting noticed.

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