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Introduction

AILT1001
Artificial Intelligence Literacy I

HKU School of Computing and Data Science

Why AILT1001 Matters

You Use AI

Learn · Communicate · Prepare

AI Is Used on You

Evaluate · Screen · Select

UNDERSTANDhow AI works
USEit effectively
DECIDEwhen to trust it

From Biological Neurons to Modern AI

Brain ≈86 Billion Biological Neurons
1943
Artificial Neuron Numbers In → Number Out
1958
Perceptron Learns Weights from Examples
1986
Backpropagation Error Guides Weight Updates
2012
Deep Learning More Layers + Data + GPUs
2017
Transformer Attention Connects Context
2020s
Today
Modern LLMs Transformers + Pretraining + Scale
Inspired by Biology. Built from Math, Data, and Computing.

Could a Machine Be Intelligent?

Biological Brain Living neurons,
electrical and chemical signals
Modern LLM Learned numerical weights; calculations run on computer hardware
Can intelligence exist without a biological brain?

Turing Changed the Question

TURING TEST · 1950
Judge cannot reliably tell which is AI AI passes this test
TURING’S IDEA Judge AI by what it can do.

One Test Cannot Show Everything

TURING TEST COMMUNICATE
THROUGH TEXT
PERCEIVE
LEARN
REASON
PLAN
ACT
ADAPT
CREATE
…AND MORE

ACT: Robot Running

Example: Acting
2025 Humanoid robots running the 100-metre final in Beijing in 2025 Tiangong Ultra · 100 m
2026 Humanoid robots running the 100-metre race in Beijing in 2026 Tiangong Ultra · 100 m final

Example: Communicating

Example: Communicating

Our group meeting went perfectly; 
we only argued for two hours.

What does the speaker really mean?
DEMO 1 · ChatGPT

Does a Convincing Answer Prove Understanding?

The Chinese Room · John Searle, 1980
Correct reply proof of understanding

AI Can Help. Should It Decide?

Draft a Group Message

Lower stakes

Scholarship Decision

Higher stakes
Higher stakes require stronger evidence, stronger checks, and someone responsible

Moodle + Ed Setup

Know the Course

AILT1001 Is Communication Intensive

OFFICIALLY BADGED AT HKU
Communication-Intensive Course badge
Students featured in the HKU Communication-Intensive Courses video What Is a Communication-Intensive Course?1:17

Activity