Basic Information
| Course Name: 17209/17709 Demystifying AI for Everyone: Concepts and Applications |
| Meeting Days, Times: Tue/Thu 11:00-12:20 |
| Location: BH 255A |
| Semester: Fall, Year: 2025 |
| Units: 9 |
Instructor Information
| Name | Dr. Fei Fang |
| Contact Info | Email: feifang@cmu.edu |
| Office hours | Tue/Thu 1pm-2pm |
| Office hour location | TCS 321 or Zoom, Make an appointment through Calendly to secure slots |
TA Information
| Name | Zhicheng Zhang |
| Contact Info | zczhang@cmu.edu |
| Office hours | TBD |
| Office hour location | TBD |
Course Description
This introductory course is designed to make Artificial Intelligence (AI) accessible to students from all academic backgrounds, with no prior technical knowledge required. This course unpacks the fundamental concepts of AI, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and more, using everyday language and relatable examples. Through engaging lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, students will explore how AI technologies work and how they are applied in various fields, from healthcare, finance, and transportation, to science, entertainment, and art. Students will have non-programming assignments to understand AI concepts and techniques better.
Beyond understanding the technical aspects, this course emphasizes the real-world impact of AI, addressing its ethical, societal, and economic implications. Students will critically examine the benefits and challenges posed by AI, discuss current debates in the field, and reflect on the future of AI in our rapidly evolving world. By the end of the course, students will not only be able to grasp basic AI concepts but also appreciate the transformative potential and responsibilities that come with these technologies.
Prerequisites
This course does not have any prerequisites.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, the students will be able to
- Understand and explain basic AI concepts and terminology
- Identify and describe real-world applications of AI across various fields
- Describe commonly used evaluation criteria of AI-based systems and tools
- Analyze the ethical and societal implications of AI
- Engage with AI tools and technologies through guided, hands-on activities designed for non-technical users.
- Develop a foundational understanding that enables informed perspectives on current and future AI developments.
- Deliver a video presentation
Course Schedule (Subject to Change)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fAhx7JB05dUcv6D_mVDXjLDfhC4x4OIAtUH86vYYNT4/edit?usp=sharing
Learning Resources
Slides, references, and additional resources will be provided on Canvas.
Assessments
The final course grade will be calculated using the following categories:
| Assessment | Percentage of Final Grade |
| Class Participation | 25% |
| Online Quiz | 15% |
| Non-Programming Assignment | 40% |
| Course Project | 20% |
- Class participation. The grading of the class participation will be mostly based on attendance, checked by in-class polls and asking and answering questions in class. Other factors include asking and answering questions on Piazza.
- Online quiz. The course will require all students to complete several online quizzes individually. Each quiz will involve checking the understanding of basic concepts, applications, and other aspects discussed in class. Most questions are multiple-choice questions or fill-in-the-blank questions. Students will make submissions through Canvas and get graded automatically.
- Non-programming assignment. The course will require all students to complete several assignments that do not require coding.
- Course project. The students in 17209 will work individually to prepare a video presentation to introduce an AI concept or an AI application to a non-technical audience. The students in 17709 will work individually to build a new AI tool by leveraging existing AI tools. The tool could be an interactive interface to explain an AI concept, or an AI assistant for a specific domain or task.
Students will be assigned final letter grades according to the following table.
| Grade | Range of Points |
| A | [90,100], A-: [90,93) A: [93,97) A+: [97,100] |
| B | [80,90), B-: [80,83) B: [83,87) B+: [87,90) |
| C | [70,80), C-: [70,73) C: [73,77) C+: [77,80) |
| D | [60,70), D: [60,67) D+: [67,70) |
| R (F) | [0,59) |
Grading Policies
- Late-work policy: All late submissions will be graded with a 0.7 discount.
- Re-grade policy: To request a re-grade, the student needs to write an email to the instructor titled “Re-grade request from [Student’s Full Name]” within one week of receiving the graded assignment.
- Attendance and participation policy: Attendance and participation will be a graded component of the course. The grading of the class participation will be mostly based on attendance, checked by in-class quizzes and asking and answering questions in class. Other factors include asking and answering questions on Piazza.
Course Policies
- Academic integrity & collaboration: For all the assignments, a student can discuss with other students, but they need to specify the names of the students they discussed with and complete the writing on their own. Plagiarism is not allowed. The policy is motivated by CMU’s policy on academic integrity which can be found here.
- Mobile devices: Mobile devices are allowed in class. Cell phones should be in silent mode. Students who use tablets in upright positions and laptops will be asked to sit in the back rows of the classroom.
- Accommodations for students with disabilities: If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact Catherine Getchell, Director of Disability Resources, 412-268-6121, getchell@cmu.edu. If you have an accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, I encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with me as early in the semester as possible. I will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate.
Statement on student wellness: As a student, you may experience a range of challenges that can interfere with learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may diminish your academic performance and/or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. CMU services are available, and treatment does work. You can learn more about confidential mental health services available on campus here. Support is always available (24/7) from Counseling and Psychological Services: 412-268-2922.
Fei Fang 