Recent advantages in AI are driving digital disruption across the globe, which is creating a high demand for skilled professionals in a broad range of artificial intelligence jobs. However, the complex world of AI covers many areas of computing, and new technologies are redefining most industries. You can learn more when you study artificial intelligence.

Our Introduction to Artificial Intelligence will provide IT professionals with the specialist skills to design and develop advanced solutions using AI to solve real-world problems in the context of artificial environments.

You will be introduced to natural language processing and learn how to solve adversarial and Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSP’s). You will also learn about chatbots, how to develop AI and machine learning solutions with Java, and explore TensorFlow, Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Dialogflow tools. The future is already here!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved if you study artificial intelligence include:

• Learning about the four main definitions of artificial intelligence (AI)
• Exploring AI research and applications
• Studying how to build AI systems
• Understanding intelligent agent types
• Examining intelligent agent task environments
• Learning about observable, partially observable and unobservable environments
• Exploring deterministic and stochastic environments
• Studying the levels of certainty in an environment
• Understanding the types of environmental behaviour
• Examining the techniques used to solve adversarial problems
• Learning how to represent an adversarial problem
• Exploring how to use the minimax algorithm
• Studying how to use Alpha-beta pruning to improve algorithm performance
• Gaining an understanding of evaluation functions
• Examining how to use cutoffs to perform adversarial searches
• Learning how to look up tables to improve an agent’s performance
• Exploring how to play the game of chess
• Studying how to expect minimax values in stochastic games
• Uncovering the evaluation functions used to search in a stochastic game
• Examining how to use Monte Carlo simulations
• Gaining insights into Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs)
• Learning how to search problems
• Exploring constraint satisfaction algorithms
• Gaining insights into search algorithms
• Studying how to use a backtracking search
• Understanding how to solve a constraint satisfaction problem
• Examining ordering variables
• And more …

Five world-class Australian AI innovations

According to experts, Australia is setting a brisk pace when it comes to innovation in AI, robotics and automation. This is particularly relevant in the areas of research and start-ups, which are pushing the boundaries — and on a global scale. The Australian government is also supportive of the shift, committing up to $25 million towards AI projects. Here are five Australian innovations in AI and robotics that are more than enough inspiration to study artificial intelligence.

# – Legged robots

The global robotics industry is expected to be worth over $23 billion by 2025, and the CSIRO are making a significant contribution to the industry. Their Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group has already made 20 world-first discoveries in the field of robotics, including drones that can fly 600 metres underground, and MAX, a 2.25 metre-tall robot that is used to traverse and explore challenging environments.

#2 – Agricultural technology

Also known as ‘agtech’, this technology is helping farmers grow more efficient crops and fighting climate change and disease. Flurosat is one of the innovative leaders in the field and is using machine learning and satellite imagery to help farmers make better decisions. With $4.6 million obtained from investors including Microsoft, this is one company that’s certainly ‘going global’.

#3 – Cancer detection

AI excels at pattern recognition, and using ‘intuition’ and crunching huge numbers in ‘real-time’ can lead to life-changing technology (literally). At medical technology company, Maxwell Plus, they are using medical imaging and machine learning to improve detection rates for certain diseases including cancer. In 2018, they also secured $1.1 million in government funding to develop and commercialise technology for identifying early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

#4 – Bushfire evacuation  

The CSIRO’s robotics and AI division, Data61, is home to the Evacuation Modelling Team. They are using neural networks and algorithms to improve bushfire planning and the subsequent emergency response. Their AI-driven Decision Support System can analyse the predicted impact of bushfires, run evacuation simulations, and even give emergency services accurate data about the presence of bushfire ‘hotspots’.

#5 – Coral IVF

Still in its early stage, underwater ‘robot crop dusters’ are already at work on the Great Barrier Reef, dispersing thousands of baby coral in an effort to repopulate areas decimated by coral bleaching. Engineered at QUT, LarvalBot is similar to the robots that are already roaming the Reef hunting for crown-of-thorns starfish. With further refinement, it has enormous potential to operate across vast areas of reef in a way that has never been possible before.

How AI will shape society by 2050

When you study artificial intelligence you’re choosing an industry that will be relevant far into the future! Leading Australia AI scientist, Professor Toby Walsh, believes we are heading into a future where billions of computers and machines will soon be able to ‘think’ for us. Here is how he believes society will change in the next 30 years due to AI (which is great news for those after artificial intelligence jobs!).

Transport

Our roads will be much safer in the future without human drivers and roads much less congested as autonomous vehicles service passengers around-the-clock. Most people won’t bother buying cars, car parks will disappear, transport will be cheaper, and the disabled and the elderly will have greater mobility.

Health

You will have a personal 24/7 GP who will know your gene sequence and therefore your vulnerability to certain diseases. They will continually monitor your sleep, exercise, sugar levels and blood pressure, and be committed to improving your health and wellbeing. Fitness watches will also be able to take selfies to identify eye diseases and melanomas and record your voice for signs of a stroke, dementia or a cold. It will be a trillion-dollar global business!

Home

Many of us already have Smart technology in our homes to switch on lights, security and air conditioning without us even being there. However, in the future, AI devices will be extended to recognising your voice and knowing which football code you follow (and then switching on a repeat of the game). Everything in our lives will be connected — from electrical equipment and baths to pot plants and bicycles — and most of it will be initiated by personal data.

Work

AI systems will increasingly manage how you work — from approving your holidays and scheduling events to monitoring and rewarding your performance and possibly even hiring and firing you! But as Professor Walsh says, “We will (also) have to learn when to say no to computers. It’s not enough for a machine to do a task better than a human. There are some decisions we simply should not allow machines to make”.

 News

Most elements of this prediction are already here — computers already write simple news stories, but as technologies improve, so will the input of AI. The news you watch will be tailored to your personal preferences, and chatbots and avatars will present the news which will be filmed by robotic cameras. But as Professor Walsh asks, will algorithms care what we care about, will they challenge us enough, and will they understand deception and lies?

Sport

Robots will have superior ball skills and know where all players are at all times on the field. They will have interpreted this strategic information from watching every World Cup football game ever recorded! However, fans of human teams will no doubt call for an even playing field (pun intended), and instead, players and managers will use AI to train and play better. Data scientists will be some of the best-paid members of sporting clubs! (So consider polishing up on your data-driven decision-making skills!)

 Life

In the future, digital doubles will appear in place of living humans. Celebrities will use them to create social media and many of us will use them to manage our diaries. When you die, it will also be common to leave behind an AI chatbot that will know the story of your life, talk like you, and comfort your family when you are gone. Others might even have a chatbot that will settle old scores and read their will. All of which will spark lively debate!

 

Study artificial intelligence to develop transformational strategies across a broad range of innovative industries and artificial intelligence jobs with our Introduction to Artificial Intelligence