Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This programme is designed to equip learners with foundational knowledge, skills and competencies in the rapidly evolving area of artificial intelligence (AI). Learners will gain an understanding of AI concepts, practical applications and ethical considerations, and have opportunities to enhance their problem-solving abilities.
Overview
This course is only available to those currently in employment and partially funded under the Skills to Advance initiative.
Skills to Advance is a national initiative that provides upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees in jobs undergoing change and to those currently employed in vulnerable sectors. Skills to Advance aims to equip employees with the skills they need to progress in their current role or to adapt to the changing job market. Skills to Advance helps employers identify skills needs and invest in their workforce by providing subsidised education and training to staff.
If you would like more information on this initiative, please email our Enterprise Engagement Team at skills@kwetb.ie and they would be delighted to help.
Expression of Interest
We currently don't have this course scheduled. If you are interested in undertaking this course or looking for more information, please complete the form below and a member of our Recruitment Team will be in contact:
Course Content
The programme is aimed at learners of all backgrounds who wish to develop their knowledge of AI: what it is, how it works, how it is used in various real-world contexts, and its implications on society.
Course Objectives
1. To provide an introduction to the field of artificial intelligence.
2. To equip learners with foundational knowledge and skills in AI.
3. To explore the ethical and societal implications of AI technologies.
On completion of this module, a learner will be able to:
1. Explain the evolution of AI, including key concepts, terminology, ethical uses, societal impact and real-world
applications.
2. Outline how data can be collected and used in AI applications.
3. Use a variety of AI applications to tackle real-world problems.
Indicative Content
Unit 1: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
•History and evolution of AI: Explore the milestones from early AI research to modern advancements.
•Key concepts and terminology: Discuss foundational terms like data, algorithms, and machine learning.
•Current trends and future directions: Discuss the latest developments and potential future breakthroughs in AI, including generative AI tools such ChatGPT and Copilot.
Unit 2: Data Literacy for the Modern Age
•Explore data trends on topics of interest, such as music, social media, health, etc.
•Identify the processes of data collection and simple analysis.
•Learn the basics of collecting, processing and analysing data.
•Become familiar with simple data visualisation tools (e.g. tables and graphs).
•Examine the basic structure of a table in a spreadsheet.
•Explore the relationship between data and algorithms in the use of technology.
Unit 3: Demystifying Algorithms: Definitions and Applications
•Algorithms definitions and applications: Learn what algorithms are and what they do and explore the concept of algorithms as a set of instructions used to modify an input and create an output.
•Explore the fundamental parts of an algorithm (input, process, output).
•Explore the process of training machine-learning algorithms (supervised and unsupervised learning) and how data can be used to make predictions.
Unit 4: Real-World AI
•Compare the differences and similarities between human and computer perception.
•Applications of AI: Explore real-world applications like GenAI, chatbots, translation, computer vision and information retrieval using prompting Frameworks.
•Limitations: Discuss the limitations of AI.
•Human agency: Explore how AI can benefit humans.
•Social implications: Reflect on how AI is changing jobs (even outside of STEM).
Unit 5: AI Ethics and Society
•Ethical considerations in AI: Discuss ethical terms such as 'bias', 'fairness', and 'representation' in relation to AI.
•Reflect on human rights and ethical issues in technology/AI use.
•Explore algorithmic bias.
•Art or Algorithm: Explore positions on ownership of art generated or enhanced by AI (e.g. using DALL-E).
•Impact of AI on Society: Analyse and discuss how AI affects employment, education and academic research, privacy, and social interactions.
•Misinformation: Explore how misinformation spreads and reflect on the social consequences of deepfakes.
Unit 6: AI in Practice
•Case studies and real-world applications: Examine successful AI implementations in various industries.
•Hands-on tasks: Engage in practical tasks to apply AI concepts.
•Collaboration and teamwork: Learn the importance of working in teams to solve AI problems.
•Presentation and communication skills: Develop the ability to effectively communicate AI concepts and findings.
Suitability
Due to Skills to Advance (STA) funding, this course is only available to those in employment.
