Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
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Subject: Computing
Class: JHS 2
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 13
Grade code: B8.4.4.1.1
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 4
Content standard code: B8.4.4.1
Indicator code: B8.4.4.1.1
Theme: COMPUTATIONAL THINKING
Subtheme: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
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In today's world, we interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) every day, often without even realising it. When you use a smartphone to get directions, watch recommended videos on YouTube, or see your parents use Mobile Money, AI is working behind the scenes. This lesson will introduce you to the fascinating world of AI. We will explore what "intelligence" means, compare how humans, animals, and machines "think," and learn about the different types of AI that exist and are being imagined for the future. Understanding AI is important because it is changing how we live, work, and solve problems here in Ghana and around the world.
Part 1: What is Intelligence?
Before we talk about *Artificial* Intelligence, let's understand *natural* intelligence. Intelligence is the ability to: Learn from experience (e.g., learning not to touch a hot coal). Understand complex ideas (e.g., understanding why we have seasons). Reason and think logically (e.g., if the ground is wet, it likely rained). Solve problems (e.g., finding the quickest route to the market). Adapt to new situations (e.g., figuring out how to use a new phone). Part 2: Comparing Intelligences: Humans vs. Animals vs. Machines
Humans, animals, and machines (computers with AI) all show some form of intelligence, but they are very different. Let's compare them.
| Feature / Capability | Human Intelligence | Animal Intelligence | Machine Intelligence (AI) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Learning | Excellent at learning a wide variety of skills and concepts, from language to mathematics. Can learn from just a few examples. | Good at learning for survival (e.g., finding food, avoiding predators). Learning is often based on instinct and repetition. | Learns by processing huge amounts of data. Very fast but needs a lot of data to learn one specific thing. | | Problem Solving | Creative and flexible. Can solve new, unseen problems using logic, intuition, and imagination. | Excellent at solving problems related to their environment (e.g., a chimpanzee using a stick to get ants). Limited in abstract problems. | Extremely fast and accurate at solving specific, well-defined problems (e.g., calculating 5,432 x 9,876). Poor at problems requiring "common sense." | | Creativity | High. Can write poetry, compose music (like highlife or hiplife), invent new things, and tell stories. | Low in the human sense. Some animals build complex structures (spider webs, nests), but it is based on instinct, not creative choice. | Currently very low. AI can generate art or music by copying patterns from data it was trained on, but it does not have original feelings or intentions. | | Emotional Understanding | High. Can feel and understand emotions like happiness, sadness, and empathy. This guides our decisions. | Present. Many animals show basic emotions like fear, affection, and distress. | None. An AI can be programmed to *recognise* a sad face or use sad words, but it does not *feel* sadness. It is simulating, not feeling. | | Speed & Accuracy | Relatively slow. Can make mistakes due to tiredness, bias, or distraction. | Speed is based on physical ability and instinct. | Incredibly fast and highly accurate for its programmed task. A calculator never gets tired or makes a calculation error. |