According to netdictionary, artificial intelligence is "a branch of computer science that studies how to endow computers with capabilities of human intelligence." Now lets not get crazy and think of highly intelligent system such as Data from Star Trek (seen on the left). These capabilities of human intelligence can be basic concepts such as the ability to classify objects. For instance how we classify an shape to be a circle versus a square.
The idea is to provide the computer with enough information so that it can use an algorithm to make these classifications. For instance in the case of shapes one may provide the computer with the number of lines. Well of course the square has four lines while the circle has none or one depending on how you define a line. Remember this is an oversimplified case.
These classifications can get quite advance such as the typical logistic credit application problem. In most beginning AI courses students are presented with credit application data and are charged with the task of programming the computer to decide whether an application should be approved or not. Another example is Dr. Brooks's classification algorithm to distinguish between different structures of sarcoma tumor beds, covered yesterday.
Well thats as simplified as I can put it, what does everyone else think?
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