Chapter 3: What is AI? For example, when a teacher and student agree that the student needs reminders, an AI system may provide reminders in whatever form a student likes without adding to the teacher’s workload. Intelligence Automation (IA) uses the same basic capabilities of AI, employing associations in data to notice patterns, and, through automation, takes actions based on those patterns. However, IA squarely focuses on helping people in human activities of teaching and learning, whereas AI tends to focus attention on what computers can do. 3.4. Definition of “Model” The above perspectives open a door to making sense of AI. Yet, to assess AI meaningfully, constituents must consider specific models and how they are developed. In everyday usage, the term “model” has multiple definitions. We clarify our intended meaning, which is a meaning similar to “mathematical model,” below. (Conversely, note that “model” as used in “AI model” is unlike the usage in “model school” or “instructional model” as AI model is not a singular case created by experts to serve as an exemplar.) AI models are like financial models: an approximation of reality that is useful for identifying patterns, making predictions, or analyzing alternative decisions. In a typical middle school math curriculum, students use a mathematical model to analyze which of two cell phone plans is better. Financial planners use this type of model to provide guidance on a retirement portfolio. At its heart, AI is a highly advanced mathematical toolkit for building and using models. Indeed, in well-known chatbots, complex essays are written one word at a time. The underlying AI model predicts which next words would P a g e | 24
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