AI Fundamentals & Generative AI Overview

Digital Competency Framework (DQ Institute)

  • 8 digital skills × 3 maturity levels ⇒ 24 competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes, values)

Technological Paradigm Shifts

  • 1960s Mainframes (large computers)

  • 1970\text{-}1980s Minicomputers / Personal Computers

  • 1990s Internet connectivity & e-commerce

  • 2000s Cloud computing (anywhere, anytime data)

  • 2010s→present Mobile, Social Media, IoT, Artificial Intelligence

AI Literacy Principles

  • Know core AI functions → apply responsibly

  • Continuously evaluate output accuracy

  • Prioritise ethics: avoid misuse, misinformation, copyright issues

Everyday AI Examples

  • Facial recognition (phones, security)

  • Noise cancellation (headphones)

  • Route optimisation (Google Maps)

  • Targeted online advertising

  • Self-driving vehicles

  • Voice assistants (Siri, Google Assistant)

  • Smart farming analytics

Common Application Areas

  • Virtual assistants (voice control, scheduling)

  • Social media content/recommendations

  • Online shopping suggestions & price checks

  • Streaming personalisation (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube)

  • Travel/route assistants

AI Fundamentals & Hierarchy

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): machines mimic human cognition

  • Machine Learning (ML): AI subset, learns from data

  • Deep Learning (DL): ML subset, neural-network based

  • Large Language Models (LLM): DL models that process & generate language

  • Generative AI (GenAI): creates new content from learned data

Bloom’s Taxonomy Parallel

  • AI progresses from remembering data → creating new content (highest level)

Technology Adoption to 50 M Users

  • Airplane 68 years

  • Internet 7 years

  • Facebook 3 years

  • Generative AI 5 weeks

Generative-AI Startup Surge

  • Rapid increase in companies building proprietary GenAI tools

Seven Core Generative-AI Types

  1. Text generation (LLMs)

  2. Image generation (text→image: Adobe Firefly, Freepik, Google Imagen)

  3. Code generation & analysis (GitHub Copilot, Google Gemini)

  4. 3-D object generation (text→3D)

  5. Music generation (e.g., Suno)

  6. Audio generation / text-to-speech (VoiceoverMaker)

  7. Video generation (text→video)

Prompt Engineering

  • Prompt = instruction given to AI

  • Prompt Engineer: crafts precise, effective prompts; blends AI knowledge & problem-solving skills

Additional GenAI Use-Cases

  • Weather modelling & forecasting

  • Stock-market trend prediction

  • Consumer-trend & demand analysis

  • Auto-generated game levels

  • Automated product design

  • Handwriting & character recognition

  • Advanced facial recognition

Educator’s Perspective

  • AI cannot replace teachers’ expertise, creativity, or pedagogy

  • Acts as a powerful tool to enhance and personalise teaching & learning