AI for Beginners – A Practical Introduction

Discover the world of Artificial Intelligence with this hands-on Foundations of AI course. Over four weeks, participants will explore key AI concepts, including machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and generative AI using tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Google Teachable Machine. Learn how AI powers real-world applications in education, healthcare, and business, while understanding its ethical use and impact on jobs. Through interactive projects and a capstone presentation, you’ll gain practical skills to design AI-based solutions and earn a certificate of completion. Perfect for beginners and professionals seeking future-ready skills.

Course Objectives:

  • Understand the core concepts of AI, including machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI.
  • Gain hands-on experience with AI tools and platforms (like ChatGPT, Teachable Machine, and Google Colab).
  • Be able to apply basic AI models for real-world problem-solving and automation.
  • Understand ethical considerations and applications of AI in different industries.
UCI Alumni Dinner at Sarena Hotel Islamabad

Who can Join

Students, professionals, educators, and curious learners with basic computer literacy. No coding experience is required, though it is beneficial.

The course emphasizes ethical AI use, prompt engineering, and real-world problem-solving, helping learners understand not just how AI works — but how to use it responsibly and effectively.

By the end of this course, you’ll complete a capstone project, showcasing your own AI-based solution and earning a certificate of completion. Whether you’re an educator, student, or professional, this course is your gateway to mastering the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and shaping the digital future.

The course structure and student assessment methods at UCI are outlined as follows:

Week 1 – Foundations of AI

Session 1: Introduction to AI and Its Applications


What is AI? History and evolution

Branches of AI (ML, DL, NLP, CV)

Real-world AI use cases in daily life

Tools demo: ChatGPT, DALL·E

Activity: Brainstorming AI use in your profession

 

Session 2: Machine Learning Fundamentals


Supervised vs. Unsupervised Learning

Data, features, and labels

Concept of training and testing

Intro to Teachable Machine (Google)

Hands-on Activity: Build your first image classifier with Teachable Machine

Week 2 – Practical AI Tools and Concepts

Session 3: Natural Language Processing (NLP)


Text classification, sentiment analysis, summarization

Hands-on with ChatGPT and Hugging Face demo tools

Activity: Automate email replies using ChatGPT prompts

Ethical use of language models

 

Session 4: Computer Vision and Image Processing


What is computer vision?

Object detection, facial recognition basics

Hands-on: Build an object recognition model using Teachable Machine or TensorFlow Lite

Use cases: Healthcare, security, retail

Week 3 – Exploring Deep Learning and Generative AI

Session 5: Introduction to Neural Networks


What is a neural network?

Neurons, layers, activation functions (conceptual level)

Demo using TensorFlow Playground

Activity: Visualizing how neural networks learn

 

Session 6: Generative AI – Text & Image Generation


What is Generative AI?

Prompt engineering

Using tools: ChatGPT for writing, DALL·E for art

Hands-on: Generate an educational lesson and visual aid using AI

Week 4 – Real-World Applications and Final Projects

Session 7: AI in Action – Projects Across Industries


AI in Education, Healthcare, Business, Agriculture

Group Activity: Identify a real-world problem and design an AI-based solution

Hands-on: Build a chatbot using ChatGPT prompt chain

Discuss AI ethics, biases, and job impact

 

Session 8: Capstone Presentations and Wrap-Up


Presentation of mini-projects by participants

Peer feedback

Certificate distribution

Future learning pathways in AI

Assessment and Resources & Tools:

Assessment 


Class Participation & Activities (30%)

Capstone Mini-Project (40%)

Final Presentation (30%)

 

Resources & Tools:


ChatGPT / Bing Copilot

Google Teachable Machine

Google Colab (optional for coding demos)

TensorFlow Playground

Hugging Face Demos

Canva / DALL·E (for Generative AI tasks)

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