CS121 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

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Description & Organization

Textbook | Homeworks | Exams | Grading | Re-grading | Honor Code

CS121 is an introduction to concepts and methods in artificial intelligence, including search, constraint propagation, knowledge representation, planning, reasoning under uncertainty, and inductive learning. It is intended for students with reduced background in computer science (CS103B or CS103X is a prerequisite). It overlaps with CS221, but it is less advanced and intensive. Nevertheless, students are expected to work hard in this class. They must have some programming experience (106B or 106X). Familiarity with the basic concepts of logic and probability theory will also be helpful. CS121 is a 3-unit course.

Email your questions to cs121-spr0708-staff@lists.stanford.edu
[Send a separate email for each question]

Textbook: The following textbook is required:

S. Russell and P. Norvig. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. 2^nd Ed., Prentice Hall, 2003.

The first edition of 1995 is ok, but contains errors that have been fixed for the 2^nd edition. The 2^nd edition also provides much better coverage of Constraint Satisfaction and Planning.

Homework assignments:

- There will be 6 homework assignments (see schedule page).

- A link to each new HW will be posted on the schedule page on a Wednesday. The HW will be due on the Thursday of the following week at 12-noon.

- Each HW must be returned in printed hardcopy form in the drawer marked CS121 of a file cabinet located in the entryway of the Gates building next to office Gates 182 (see red arrow in map)

- Late HWs will not be graded. There will be no exception! But see 2^nd item of grading section.

- The 3rd HW will be a programming assignment. There will be no other programming assignment.

Exams:

- The will be a midterm and a final.

- The midterm will be held on Wednesday May 14^th at 7-9pm in Hewlett 200.

- The final exam will be held Monday June 9^th at 8:30-11:30am in 200-305 and 200-02.

- Each exam will be a problem set similar in type and difficulty to those in the HWs.

- Both exams will be closed book, but you will be allowed to bring:

. One two-sided page of written notes for the midterm,

. Two two-sided pages of written notes for the final.

Grading:

- The HWs will count for 40% of the total grade, the midterm for 25%, and the final for 35%.

- Each HW will be individually graded with equal weight, but only the 4 best HWs will be retained for the final grade.

Re-grading policy: If you believe that there has been a mistake in the grading of a homework or an exam, you may ask that it be re-graded. Your request must be sent no later than three days after the graded assignment has been returned by us, by email to cs121-spr0708-staff@lists.stanford.edu. It must contain a description of the reason(s) why you believe a mistake has been made. You must be aware that, if we re-grade a portion of an assignment/exam on your request, we may re-grade the entire assignment/exam.

Important note on Honor Code: As we may reuse problems of previous years, we expect you NOT to look at previously published solutions in preparing your answers. You may discuss the assignments with other students in the class without taking any written or electronic notes. You may also look into other documents (books, web sites), with the exception of published solutions, If you have discussed any of the assignments with other students, you will be requested to indicate their name(s) on your returned homework assignments. Any intentional transgression of these rules will be considered an honor code violation.