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From: lyang@jennifer.UUCP
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Subject: Learing about AI (was Re: A List of AI Books (for beginners))
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Date: Tue, 10-Feb-87 12:40:17 EST
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Posted: Tue Feb 10 12:40:17 1987
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>Learn LISP and PROLOG.

When I took a class on Artificial Intelligence at Stanford (CS223, for
those who care), I figured I was ready.  I knew PROLOG and LISP.
And I was all set to learn about this great thing called 'AI', at
the place where big names made it happen.

I was in for a surprise.  Based on my experience, if you want
to learn about hard-core, theoretical artificial intelligence,
then you must have a strong (I mean STRONG) background in formal
logic.  My understanding of PROLOG (which resembles predicate logic)
was very helpful, but it wasn't enough.

If you want to go out and build expert systems, or perform some other
intelligence engineering task, then PROLOG and LISP and a basic
grasp of logic are probably enough.  But if you want to follow the
latest research (and maybe eventually do some of it), then a formal
training in logic is a must.

================================================================================
Whydoesn'titsnowintherightplaces?



--Larry Yang                         | *A REAL signature* _|> /\  |
  lyang@sun.com,{backbone}!sun!lyang | "Limit? We don't    |   |  | /-\  |-\ /-\
  Sun Microsystems, Inc.             |  need no stinkin'  <|_/  \_| \_/\_| |_\_|
  Mountain View, California          |  4-line limit!  "         _/           _/