Explore the fundamentals of AI and how it supports everyday decision-making, creativity, and problem-solving

Before you begin, ensure that you have selected an AI model to use throughout the lessons.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all around us, shaping the way we navigate, communicate, and solve problems. From voice assistants and thoughtful replies to recommendation engines and rideshare pricing, AI helps people make everyday decisions more efficiently. This page introduces key concepts in both traditional and generative AI, showing how these tools can support—not replace—human creativity, problem-solving, and informed choices across work, school, and daily life.

🎯 Learning Objectives for this Module

Understand the definitions of Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI
Identify common examples of AI in everyday contexts
Reflect on how AI can support human-centered goals in your work, learning, or life

Key Concepts

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Systems that perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence, such as recognizing speech, making decisions, or translating language.

Machine Learning (ML): A branch of AI where systems learn from data to make decisions or predictions without explicit programming.

Generative AI: A form of AI that creates original content—text, images, audio, or code—based on patterns it has learned. Examples include ChatGPT, DALL·E, Gemini, and Bard.

Human in the Loop: An approach that ensures human oversight, ethics, and creativity guide AI. AI works best as an assistant—not a replacement—for human decision-making.

Pause and Consider

Think about how often you interact with AI in a single day—whether through autocorrect, playlists, or search suggestions. Which tools have become almost invisible to you? What role do you think your judgment still plays when using them?

Why This Matters

Understanding AI is no longer just for computer scientists. These tools shape how we learn, work, and communicate. By learning the basics, you can better navigate new technologies, make informed decisions, and stay in control of how AI fits into your life and work.

Use this page as a quick-access resource to clarify the basics of AI and return to it as you build more advanced knowledge.