Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Agent Design

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we solve complex problems, but mastering it requires understanding the core principles behind intelligent systems. This text-based course guides you from the absolute basics of AI to designing your own logical and search-based agents. By reading through detailed explanations, analyzing conceptual examples, and working through written exercises, you will transition from an AI enthusiast to a practitioner who understands how systems think, learn, and make decisions. You will explore foundational algorithms and modern AI concepts that power today's smart applications. What you'll learn: 1. Understand the core terminology and foundational concepts of artificial intelligence and intelligent agents. 2. Apply classical search algorithms and constraint satisfaction techniques to navigate complex decision trees. 3. Design logical agents capable of reasoning, game-playing, and solving structured problems. 4. Explore fundamental machine learning concepts and how systems learn from data. 5. Master basic prompt engineering and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) principles for modern AI integration. 6. Practice evaluating AI models and agent performance through structured written scenarios. The course begins with essential definitions and the history of AI before moving into search heuristics, adversarial games, and basic machine learning. You will wrap up by exploring modern generative AI workflows and how today's systems fit into the broader landscape of intelligent systems. This course is designed entirely for beginners with no prior programming or AI background. All concepts are explained clearly through written text and logical breakdowns. Start your journey into the world of intelligent systems and build a strong conceptual foundation in AI today.