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Artificial Intelligence: Distinguishing Between Fact and Fiction

How well do you understand artificial intelligence (AI)? Explore how to separate the reality from the hype on this course.

9,218 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
This course is part of the program Artificial Intelligence Ethics for Business, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Master of Business Administration (Artificial Intelligence). Find out more.

Is artificial intelligence a reality or just marketing hype?

On this two-week course, you will have the opportunity to explore artificial intelligence, how it’s perceived today and the differences between the hype, marketing and reality of AI.

You will have the chance to examine Alan Turing’s scholarship following his codebreaking successes in World War II at Bletchley Park. You will also explore how John McCarthy coined the term ‘artificial intelligence (AI)’ and the current state of the art, including manufacturing and social robotics.

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What topics will you cover?

  • Roots of artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Different features of human intelligence
  • Asimov’s laws
  • The reality of AI

When would you like to start?

  • Date to be announced

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Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain the different features of human intelligence
  • Distinguish between the claims and current reality of artificial intelligence (AI)

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in artificial intelligence in psychology, philosophy and child development.

Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change.

Who will you learn with?

Dr Mark Elshaw is a lecturer and researcher at Coventry University. His teaching and research interesting include AI, neural network, AI ethics, biological inspired computing system.

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992
  • Location

    Coventry

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding is a family of learners, businesses and educators creating a new way to develop the digital skills needed at work and beyond.

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  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

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  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

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This course is part of the program Artificial Intelligence Ethics for Business, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Master of Business Administration (Artificial Intelligence).

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