Course Information

Topics Covered

Agents, search, constraint satistfaction, game playing, utility theory, decision making under uncertainty, reinforcement learning, probabilistic reasoning, machine learning, and other topics as time permits. 

Textbook

Russell and Norvig, Artificial Intelligence, A Modern Approach. Prentice-Hall, Third edition. ISBN 0-13-604259-7 is the recommended text (3E - aka the Blue Book).  A copy of the book will be on reserve in the Engineering Library.

You may, at your own risk, use the Second edition (2E - aka the Green Book).  The second edition has most of what you need; the third edition has improved pseudocode and better sections on learning.   The first edition (the Red Book) is too different to use. 

Grading

Grades are on the following fixed scale:

    A    [90 -- 100]% 
    A-   [85 – 90)% 
    B+  [80 -- 85)% 
    B    [75 -- 80)% 
    B-   [70 -- 75)% 
    C+  [65 -- 70)% 
    C    [60 -- 65)% 
    C-   [55 -- 60)% 
    D+  [50 -- 55)% 
    D    [45 -- 50)% 
    D-   [40 -- 45)% 
    F    [0 -- 40)%

These cutoffs represent grade minimums. We may adjust grades upward based on class participation, extra credit, etc. The grade of A+ will be awarded at the professor's discretion based on exceptional performance.

Course Participation And Course Etiquette

Students are expected to attend lectures (see notes on excused absences below).  There will be occasional in-class exercises and count towards grade; participation in class discussions and online discussions is encouraged.

Students must arrive on time to class.  There is a NO CELL PHONE rule.  Laptops are NOT ALLOWED during lecture. It is distracting both for the students around you, and for the lecturer. Given the early hour of the class, we will all need to be on our toes to keep things lively!

Quizzes

The course will be structured around learning modules.   Each module will have an associated quiz, available on eCommons.   The quiz in/out dates are listed on the schedule and on the calendar in eCommons.  The quizzes require not just reading and understanding the lecture, but will often require working out solutions to problems.   It is highly suggested that you work these out on paper, this will be excellent practice and preparation for the exam.  Because of this, they will take effort a substantial amount of effort, so please plan accordingly. 

Programming Assignments

Programming assignments will be in Python. There will be an initial introductory programming assignment to familiarize you with Python (P0), three assignments, and a final project. These programming assignments are CHALLENGING, and are not designed to be done in a single evening. Please plan accordingly!!

For all programming assignments, we will grade you on both correctness and style. Here's a description of each category and the value that will be assigned:

Extra-Credit Discussion Topics

AI is a huge and multi-faceted topic.   There is a wealth of information about topics that we will cover in class, and on topics that we won't have time to cover in class, on the web.   Throughout the quarter, a variety of extra-credit discussions topics that will be posted to Piazza.   Students who partipate, either by posting on a topic, or responding to other students post, will be able to earn extra-credit points.    

Late Quizzes And Programming Assignments

Unless otherwise stated, quizzesare due electronincally at 5:00pm on their due date and programming assignments are due electronincally at 10:00pm on their due date.  Recognizing that students may face unusual circumstances and require some flexibility in the course of the semester, each student will have a total of seven free late (calendar) days to use as s/he sees fit. No additional individual extensions will be given. Once these late days are exhausted, any assignment turned in late will be penalized at the rate of 25% per late day (or fraction thereof). Under no circumstances will a quiz or project be accepted more than four days after its due date.  

Re-Grading Issues

The majority of the grading will be done by the TAs. If you think there has been a mistake in grading your homework or exam, please submit a regrade request explaining in writing, precisely and concisely, the grading error that has occurred, to the TA. Such request must be made no later than 1 week after the material in question was returned to the class. Any request to have an assignment regraded may result in the entire assignment in question being regraded, possibly resulting in a loss of points. 

Academic Integrity

In this course you are responsible for both the University's Code of Academic Integrity and the UCSC policies for acceptable computing use. Any evidence of unacceptable use of computer accounts, web resources, or unauthorized cooperation on tests, quizzes, or projects will be submitted to the Student Affairs, which could result in an XF for the course, suspension, or expulsion from the University. 

Excused Absences

Any student who needs to be excused for a prolonged absence (2 or more consecutive class meetings), the midterm or final exam must provide written documentation of the illness from the Health Center or from an outside health care provider.  This documentation must verify dates of treatment and indicate the timeframe that the student was unable to meet academic responsibilities.  No diagnostic information shall be given.  Excused absences do not extend your 7 late day budget.

Any student eligible for and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to a disability is requested to provide, to the instructor in office hours, a letter of accommodation from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) within the first two weeks of the quarter.

Any student who must miss a class due to religious holidays should also notify the instructor during the first two weeks of class.