ASAI1001 Artificial intelligence: foundation, philosophy and ethics (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department SCDS (Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science) Quota 40
Course Co-ordinator Prof Y Cao, SCDS (Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science) < yuancao@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof J Y F Lau,Philosophy)
(Prof Y Cao,Statistics & Actuarial Science)
Course Objectives The goal of this course is to expose students to the fundamental concepts of artificial intelligence (AI), including the history of AI, the classical and modern approaches, the main techniques used in AI, the challenges and major breakthroughs, the philosophical problems and ethical issues, and the application fields. This course is exclusive to BASc(AppliedAI) students.
Course Contents & Topics The course will introduce a number of key ideas, concepts and methods relevant to AI.    It has two sections, a technical one and a philosophical one.

The technical section will cover the following topics: (1) Solving problems by searching; classical and adversarial search methods.  (2) Uncertain knowledge and reasoning: quantifying uncertainty, probabilistic reasoning; making decision under uncertainty. (3) Learning: learning from examples, knowledge in learning, learning probabilistic models.  

The section on philosophy will address three topics: (1) Philosophical challenges to AI, concerning questions such as whether AI can achieve genuine understanding, with thoughts, conscious feelings, and emotions. (2) Ethical and political issues related to the use of AI,
such as privacy, legitimacy of human enhancement, and how AI might affect socio-economic inequality. (3) The idea of singularity and the implications of AI for the future of humanity, and whether AI poses an existential threat.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 Apprehend the concepts of artificial intelligence and its underlying theory in relation to a broad range of related disciplinary areas.
CLO 2 Be proficient with artificial intelligence techniques, and offer effective recommendations for innovative initiatives and solutions.
CLO 3 Acquire the necessary critical thinking, creative problem solving and communication skills for effective work and collaboration.
CLO 4 Gain insights into current advances and comprehensive knowledge of artificial intelligence to solve real-life problems.
CLO 5 Communicate to people effectively and efficiently with professionalism and accuracy.
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 For BASc(AppliedAI) students only.
Only for students admitted in 2025 and thereafter.
Course Status with Related Major/Minor/Professional Core 2025 Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Applied Artificial Intelligence ( Core/Compulsory )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Applied Artificial Intelligence < PLO 1,2,3 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course Y
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 12.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Coursework (assignments, tutorials, and class test(s)) 60.0 1,2,3,4,5
Examination One 2-hour written examination 40.0 1,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 1. Stuart J. Russell and Peter Norvig (2010).  Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (4th edition). Pearson Education, Inc.
2. Entry on AI in the  [Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.stanford.edu/index.html)  [Artificial Intelligence (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/artificial-intelligence/)
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information Jointly offered by Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Department of Mathematics and Department of Philosophy