Beginner · module B4

Domains of AI: Vision, Language, Speech and Robotics

By the end: Name the main domains of AI, explain what each one does, and describe how a chatbot and a voice assistant work

Covers: How AI sees, reads, listens, talks and moves, explained without code
Contents: 6 chapters, 22 topics
Time: About 3 hours
Level: Beginner
Your progress: 0 / 22

This module builds on How Artificial Intelligence Works: Data and Learning. We suggest looking at it first, but the choice is yours.

Chapter 1 The Domains of Artificial Intelligence

1.1
The Three Core Domains: Data, Vision and Language
Data science, computer vision and natural language processing
Interactive: three games, three domains
10 min Read Activity
1.2
One Application, Many Domains
How a single app combines several domains
Interactive: break an app into its domains
6 minBeing written
1.3
Predictive AI and Generative AI
AI that predicts or classifies compared with AI that creates
Card sort: predicts or creates?
8 minBeing written

2.1
What Is Computer Vision?
How a computer turns pixels into meaning
Interactive: see a picture as the computer sees it
8 min Read Activity
2.2
Image Classification, Object Detection and Segmentation
Three core vision tasks explained with pictures
Interactive: label, box and colour the objects
10 minBeing written
2.3
Face Detection and Face Recognition
The difference between finding a face and identifying a person, and why consent matters
Discussion: where face recognition should and should not be used
8 minBeing written
2.4
Computer Vision Around Us
Medicine, farming, traffic, retail and sports
Survey: find computer vision around you
6 minBeing written
2.5
Why Computer Vision Makes Mistakes
Lighting, angles, unusual examples and missing data
Interactive: fool the model with tricky pictures
8 minBeing written

3.1
What Is Natural Language Processing?
How computers work with human language
Interactive: what can this app understand?
8 min Read Activity
3.2
Applications of NLP
Translation, search, spam filtering, summaries and sentiment
Card sort: match each task to an application
6 minBeing written
3.3
How Computers Break Down Language
Sentences into words and smaller pieces called tokens
Unplugged: split sentences into tokens
8 minBeing written
3.4
Sentiment Analysis
Finding whether text is positive, negative or neutral
Unplugged: the human sentiment machine
8 minBeing written
3.5
Why Human Language Is Difficult for Computers
Ambiguity, context, sarcasm and mixed languages such as Hinglish
Interactive: one sentence, two meanings
6 minBeing written

4.1
Speech Recognition and Speech Synthesis
Turning speech into text and text into speech
Interactive: watch speech turn into text
6 minBeing written
4.2
How a Voice Assistant Works
Wake word, speech to text, understanding, action and spoken reply
Interactive: trace a voice command step by step
8 minBeing written

5.1
What Is a Chatbot?
Programs that hold a conversation, and where they are used
Discussion: chatbots you have used
6 minBeing written
5.2
Rule-Based Chatbots and AI Chatbots
Scripted bots compared with bots that learn language
Interactive: chat with both kinds and compare
8 minBeing written
5.3
Designing a Chatbot Conversation
Planning questions, answers and fallbacks with a flowchart
Unplugged: paper chatbot
10 minBeing written
5.4
Is a Chatbot a Person?
Why chatbots can sound human without feelings or understanding
Discussion
5 minBeing written

6.1
What Is a Robot?
Sensors, actuators and a controller
Interactive: name the parts of a robot
8 minBeing written
6.2
Artificial Intelligence in Robots
How AI helps robots see, plan and move safely
Case study: a warehouse robot
6 minBeing written
6.3
Module Review and Assessment
Recap of the module with a scored quiz
Module quiz with explanations
10 minBeing written