Algorithm
A set of steps written by a person to solve a problem. Steps like these can be clever without being AI — a calculator follows them.
In practice
Shortest-route math in a GPS is an algorithm, not AI.
Where students meet it
Algorithm is taught in the intro lesson, Welcome to AI Explorers, part of the Foundations unit of the AI Explorers course for kids. Atlas is the guide for that lesson, and it is one of 8 terms in the unit.
Often mixed up with
- Artificial Intelligence
Software that learns how to do something by finding patterns in huge amounts of examples — instead of following rules a person wrote out.
More from Foundations
Back to all 58 AI terms for students.
KNOWING THE WORD IS THE START
Algorithm is one of 58 terms students meet across 16 video lessons that teach them to direct AI rather than just use it.