ERIC KESHISHIAN
mr_eric_k@hotmail.com

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of Science which deals with helping machines or programs find solutions to complex problems in a more human-like fashion. This involves borrowing characteristics from human intelligence, and applying them as algorithms to which a computer can understand. AI can be seen as an attempt to model aspects of the human thought process on computers. It is also sometimes defined as trying to solve by computer any problem that a human can solve, but faster.

Artificial Life is field of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Life attempts to study nature (life) and its properties on a computer - by either creating digital life within the computer or simulating life.

Genetic Algorithms
Genetic algorithms (GA) are a subset of evolutionary computing - the study of applying evolutionary techniques to computing algorithms.

The theory behind a GA is relatively simple - a problem is coded in such a way that it can be represented in its simplest form called a vector. A random population of these vectors are generated. Darwin's Survival of the Fittest principle is then applied - each is run through a fitness program or function which tests how fit a given vector is. Based on the test, each vector is assigned a fitness value, then mated with other fit vectors. This is repeated many times until a suitable solution is found.

References

http://www.a-i.com/
http://www.friendsofed.com/
http://pupius.co.uk/
http://ai-depot.com/
http://www.generation5.org/