Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Learning objectives
| In this course, you will learn: | ||
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What AI is and what it is used for. | |
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How to recognize AI-based tools that you already use (or can use) in your day-to-day life. | |
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How to identify benefits and risks of using AI. | |
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that allows machines to ‘learn’ and make decisions in a similar way to a person, but using data and software.
These are not human-shaped robots that think for themselves, as in the movies. In reality, most of the time, AI is ‘hidden’ inside programs, applications and devices that we use every day.
For example:
When your smartphone suggests words to you when you type a message, that’s AI. The system has ‘learned’ how you type and offers you help to type faster.
Where is AI in your everyday life?
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You may not know it, but you are already surrounded by Artificial Intelligence in many aspects of your daily life: |
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Voice assistants: like Alexa, Siri or the Google Assistant, which answer your questions or perform tasks just by talking to them. | |
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Personalised recommendations: Netflix, YouTube, Spotify or Amazon suggest movies, songs or products based on what you’ve already seen or heard. | |
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GPS navigators: such as Google Maps, which calculate the fastest route based on traffic. | |
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Mobile cameras: they automatically adjust the image to make it come out better. | |
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Banks and shops: use chatbots to answer your questions or help you make purchases. |
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| AI is in the background, helping without us noticing. You can’t see it, but you can feel it in how things work better, faster and in a more personalised way. | ||
Myths and facts about AI
Myth 1: AI will replace all people.
Reality: AI can automate some tasks, but it doesn’t replace human judgement, empathy and common sense.
Myth 2: AI is too complicated to understand.
Reality: You don’t need to know how to programme to understand and use AI. Like a car, you don’t need to know how it was built to drive it.
Myth 3: Machines think like humans.
Reality: Machines don’t think or feel. They only process data and follow instructions, even if they sometimes appear to ‘understand’.
Recap of Unit 1
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Artificial Intelligence is a tool that allows machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as predicting or responding. |  |
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We use it every day without realising it: in phones, the Internet, household appliances and more. | |||
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We should not be afraid of AI, but learn to use it confidently and responsibly. |
Practical uses of AI in everyday life
Virtual assistants: your voice-assisted help (1)
| Virtual assistants are programmes that listen to your voice and answer your questions or perform tasks. The best known are: |
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Alexa (from Amazon) | |||
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Siri (from Apple) | |||
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Google Assistant (on Android phones) | |||
| You can ask them things like: | ||||
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What will the weather be like tomorrow? | |||
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Play music. | |||
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Remind me to take my medication at 9 o’clock. | |||
Virtual assistants: your voice-assisted help (2)
| They work on smart speakers, mobiles or tablets, and are designed to make your life easier, especially if you have difficulty typing or moving around. | |
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Tip: You don’t need to shout or speak perfectly. Just speak clearly and naturally. For example: ‘Ok Google, what time is it?’ |
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Tip: Don’t share your personal details by voice or chat if you are not sure who is on the other end. |
Chatbots: automated customer support (1)
| A chatbot is a ‘conversational robot’ that appears when you visit a website, such as your bank or a shop. |  |
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Answer frequently asked questions (schedules, appointments, orders). | |||
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Help you find information. | |||
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Carry out simple formalities. | |||
Chatbots: automated customer support (2)
| How to recognise a chatbot? It usually appears as a message icon or bubble in a corner. It says things like: ‘Hello, how can I help you?’ |
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Tip: You don’t need to know how to write perfect. Just write simple sentences like: ‘I need to change my doctor’s appointment’. |
Smart devices at home
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Smart devices are AI-powered and allow you to control your home easily, from an app or by voice. |
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Smart lights: turn on and off on command or at a scheduled time. |
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Smart thermostats: automatically regulate the temperature. |
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Smart plugs: turn appliances on or off without having to get up. |
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Smart cameras or doorbells: allow you to see who is at the door from your mobile phone. |
| These devices can improve comfort, security and autonomy in the home. | |
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Tip: You can stats with something simple, such as a smart light bulb that can be controlled by an app on your phone or by voice. |
Recap of Unit 2
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You can talk to virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa or Google to do simple tasks. | |
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Chatbots help you on websites without the need for a phone call. | |||
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Smart devices can make your life at home easier. | |||
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It is always important to take care of your security and privacy when using these technologies. |
Advantages, limits and ethics of AI
What AI does well (and what it doesn’t)
| Artificial Intelligence is very useful for some tasks: | But it also has limitations: | |||||||||
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It answers simple questions quickly. |  |
It lacks common sense and emotions. | |||||||
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Organises large amounts of information. | |
It can make mistakes if the data is not good. | |||||||
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Recognises images, voices and patterns. | |
Sometimes it does not ‘understand’ the context well. | |||||||
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Helps in health, transport and home. | |||||||||
| Example: A medical app with AI can help you keep track of medication, but it can’t replace your doctor. |
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What happens to my personal data?
| AI is powered by data: what we search for, say, write, watch or buy. That’s why it’s important to be careful with what we share: |
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Virtual assistants can listen to voice commands. | ||
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Apps collect information to improve service. | ||
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Websites use cookies to track your activity. | ||
| What can you do? | |||
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Read (or at least review) privacy policies. | ||
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Use privacy settings: many apps allow you to limit what information you share. | ||
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Don’t give out personal information (such as your account number or address) to a voice assistant or chatbot. | ||
Risks and liability
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Although it may not seem so, AI is not neutral. It is programmed by people and may have errors or biases. For example: |
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A loan recommendation system may reject an older person if it was trained with data that favours younger people. | |
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A facial recognition app may not work equally well with all faces. | |
| That is why it is important that there are clear rules and responsible use of these technologies. AI can help us, but it should not decide for us without human supervision. |
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Tips for responsible use
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Inform yourself: as you are doing now. Learning is the first step. | |
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Ask questions if you don’t understand: family members, acquaintances or even assistants in community centres can help you. | |
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Protect your information: share only what is necessary. | |
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Use AI as a support, not as a replacement: you decide, the technology assists you. |
Recap of Unit 3
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AI offers many benefits, but it is not perfect. | |
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We need to protect our personal data and understand what we share. | |||
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There are risks of errors or injustice if it is not used carefully. | |||
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Responsible and conscious use is key to reap its benefits without compromising our privacy or dignity. |
Summing up
Summing up
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What is AI? AI allows machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as answering questions, recognising images or giving recommendations. | |
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Where do you find AI in your life? In virtual assistants (Siri, Alexa), recommendations on platform (Netflix, YouTube), chatbots on websites, and home devices (lights, cameras). | |
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Advantages and precautions. AI makes your life more convenient and accessible, but it is not infallible. It is important to use it as a support, not as a substitute, and always protect your personal information. | |
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Responsible and safe use. Learning about AI empowers you. Use only reliable apps, set up your privacy settings, and don’t share personal data if you are not sure. |
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