COMP 125 - AI Fundamentals

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This introductory course explores the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI), including key concepts, machine learning types, generative and agentic AI  tools, ethics, privacy, and responsible use. Students gain hands‑on experience, learn effective prompt writing, and develop critical thinking skills to evaluate AI outputs. No technical background required.

Prerequisite None.

(Due to the quickly changing nature of this topic, no textbook will be used at this time. Content will be generated by the instructor from Internet resources such as articles, YouTube videos, and the generative AI tools themselves.)

Objectives
The student will be able to:

A. Define foundational AI concepts and terminology.

B. Distinguish between major types of AI systems.

C. Describe how modern AI models are trained and evaluated.

D. Use generative AI tools responsibly for academic and creative tasks.

E. Analyze the capabilities and limitations of agentic AI systems.

F. Apply verification strategies to fact check and validate AI generated information.

G. Discuss ethical, social, and privacy implications of AI.

H. Apply effective prompt‑writing techniques.

I. Evaluate real‑world applications of AI across industries.

J. Demonstrate critical thinking when interacting with AI systems.

Content
A. Foundations of AI.

B. Types of AI systems.

C. How AI models learn and improve.

D. Generative AI tools and applications.

E. Agentic AI and automation.

F. AI hallucinations and reliability.

G. Ethics, bias, and social impact.

H. Prompt writing and interaction skills.

I. AI across industries.

J. Critical thinking in the age of AI.

Student Evaluation
Objectives A-H will be evaluated through quizzes, exams or assignments.

Objectives I-J will be evaluated with a project created using AI tools and based on the student’s area of study.