SMU Artificial Intelligence Course: Complete Teaching Resource Library Based on AIMA

This is an open-source AI course resource library maintained by Prof. Michael Hahsler from SMU's Computer Science Department. It strictly follows the classic textbook Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (AIMA) and covers complete content from search algorithms to reinforcement learning, with supporting Python code examples and courseware. It bridges theory and practice, benefiting self-learners, educators, and practitioners.

This GitHub repo is SMU's official AI course resource. It adheres to the AIMA textbook (one of the most widely used AI textbooks globally). Unlike the official aimacode repo, this version prioritizes simplicity—code examples focus on clear expression of basic AI concepts, avoiding advanced programming techniques like excessive OOP, so students can focus on algorithm principles.

The repo is organized into 13 core modules based on AIMA chapters plus a reinforcement learning专题:

1. AI Introduction (definition, history, ethics)
2. Intelligent Agents (concepts, architectures, code demos) 3-5. Search Algorithms (uninformed, heuristic, local search, uncertain environments)
3. Adversarial Search & Games (minimax, alpha-beta pruning)
4. Constraint Satisfaction Problems (backtracking, AC-3)
5. Knowledge-based Agents & LLMs (traditional knowledge representation + cutting-edge LLM/Agentic AI)
6. Automated Planning (HTN) 10-11. Uncertainty Reasoning (Bayesian decision theory, Bayesian networks)
7. Decision Networks
8. Machine Learning (supervised learning basics like decision trees, neural networks) Reinforcement Learning专题: MDP, Q-learning, policy gradients. Each module has runnable Python implementations.

To learn this course, you need:

• Solid Python programming foundation (Jupyter Notebook is widely used)
• Understanding of data structures (big O notation, search trees)
• Working knowledge of probability and combinatorics (for uncertainty reasoning and ML). The repo provides HOWTO guides to help students reinforce weak areas.

Besides code examples, the repo offers:

• Courseware: PDF and PowerPoint讲义 for each module
• AIMA Scholar GPT: Custom ChatGPT-based AI assistant for textbook-related questions
• HOWTO guides: Python environment setup, Jupyter usage, homework methods
• Homework templates: Standardized submission format and grading criteria.

All code and docs use CC BY-SA 4.0 license:

• Free to copy, distribute, modify
• Commercial use allowed
• Must attribute original author
• Derivative works need same license. This open policy benefits global educators and learners.

This repo fills the gap between theory and practice. AIMA is theoretically deep, while this codebase provides plug-and-play Python implementations to make abstract algorithms accessible. It serves as:

• Systematic AI intro for self-learners
• Ready-to-use material for educators
• Quick reference for practitioners to review basic AI concepts.