0 or 2 credits
Fall 2026 Lecture Lower Division
This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the foundations of artificial intelligence within the broader context of human intelligence and social life. Students will explore how AI systems work, evaluate their societal impact, and learn how to employ AI tools to answer research questions in the science and liberal arts. Designed for non-specialists, this course develops AI literacy through generating a facility for evaluating and deploying the AI systems that increasingly shape our world.
Learning Outcomes1Recognize the presence, influence, and potential consequences of AI or other algorithmic or autonomous systems in daily life, work, and society.
2Understand fundamental ideas associated with AI related to its design, use, and implications.
3Identify the key capabilities, strengths, and limitations of AI.
4Evaluate AI systems for quality, trustworthiness, and potential risks or unintended impacts considering their design, use, outputs, and effects.
5Apply AI tools effectively and responsibly and communicate clearly about its use, decisions, and limitations.
made by Purdue students.