CIS 5590.004 — Topics in Computer Science

CIS 4360.004 — Seminar on Topics in Computer Science

Artificial General Intelligence

Syllabus (Spring 2025)

Instructor

Dr. Pei Wang
Email: pei.wang@temple.edu
Office: Room 347, Science Education and Research Center (SERC)
Office Hours: Thursday 3:45 - 5:00 pm, and by appointment (in person or on Zoom)

Time and Location

Lecture time: Thursday 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Classroom: Wachman Hall 407

Course Description

In recent years, an emerging field of "Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)" has been formed by researchers who believe the necessity and possibility of treating Artificial Intelligence (AI) as one problem, rather than as a collection of loosely related problems. This CIS Special Topic Course on AGI will cover the major topics in this field, such as

• Objectives and definitions,
• Theoretical fundations,
• Strategies and techniques,
• Limitations and social impacts.

Given the current diversity in opinion and practice in the field, the course will be organized around the instructor’s own AGI project, NARS (Non-Axiomatic Reasoning System). While the aspects of NARS are introduced, the related AGI problems will be analyzed, as well as the alternative solutions proposed by other researchers. The lectures will be accompanied by reading, discussion, and projects. With the help of the instructor, each student will select a topic for a course project, which can be

• Experiments on a particular AGI model,
• Evaluation of the cognitive capabilities of AGI systems,
• Theoretical analysis of an important problem in AGI.

This is a graduate-level special topic course (CIS 5590) that is cross-listed as a seminar for undergraduate students (CIS 4360).

Course Objective

• To give students a broad understanding of the basic problems and the proposed solutions in AGI.
• To give students a detailed understanding of NARS and the related AGI problems.
• To give students research experience in AGI by exploring selected topics in depth.

Schedule

See course website at http://www.cis.temple.edu/~pwang/5590-AGI/5590-index.htm

Prerequisites for CIS 5590

• CIS 1166 and 2166 (Mathematical Concepts in Computing)
• CIS 2033 (Computational Probability and Statistics)
• CIS 1068 and 2168 and 3223 (Programming, Data Structure, and Algorithms)
• CIS 2229 or 3207 (Operating System)
• CIS 3203 or 4526 (Artificial Intelligence or Machines Learning)

Prerequisites for CIS 4360

• CIS 2168, minimum grade of C-. May not be taken concurrently.

Reference Materials [This course has no required course materials that must be purchased]

• Non-Axiomatic Logic: A Model of Intelligent Reasoning, Pei Wang, World Scientific Publishing, 2013. [The draft of a revised edition of the book will be made accessible to the students.]
• There will be additional papers to read and/or open-source software to experiment.

Grading

• Assignments: 40% (weekly, with late penalty)
• Project: 40% (individual or group)
• Participation: 20% (attendence and discussion)

Policies and Rules

• To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes and labs, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptomsof acontagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.
• No eating, talking, sleeping during the lectures. Cellphone cannot be used.
• Temple has established a blanket policy on the use of generative AI tools. For this course, the use of such tools is allowed, though should be acknowledged.
• The Student Success Center services include the Writing Center, the PASS program, Academic Coaching, STEM tutoring, the Conversation Partners program, and more.
• Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application located in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources webpage. The university will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access. The Affordable Connectivity Program is available to purchase discounted internet services and devices for qualified individuals.
• On-campus computer labs are available for student use.
• Note that there are technology resources available for students, including some software that is available for free download and other specialty software that may be available for remote access through ITS, laptop share, and battery share.
• Students should be familiar with the Student Conduct Code of the university.
• Temple University has a statement on the Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities Policy, such as: Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom.
• Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a documented disability, including special accommodations for access to technology resources and electronic instructional materials required for the course, should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation by the end of the second week of classes or as soon as practical. If you have not done so already, please contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) at 215-204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to learn more about the resources available to you. We will work with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities.
• It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others’ privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.