Mental models, prompting, verification, personal systems

A Modern Mental Model of AI Systems

AI literacy begins with knowing what systems like language models, image models, speech models, and agentic tools are actually doing at a useful level of abstraction. This module avoids both mysticism and unnecessary math.

Deep dive summary

What this module actually teaches.

Passage 1AI literacy begins with knowing what systems like language models, image models, speech models, and agentic tools are actually doing at a useful level of abstraction. This module avoids both mysticism and unnecessary math.

Passage 2Learners understand tokens, context, probability, embeddings, tool use, multimodal input, and why models can be fluent while still wrong. The module also explains the difference between a model, an app, an assistant, an agent, and an automation workflow.

Passage 3The goal is practical judgment. Students learn how to ask better questions about AI products, spot unrealistic claims, and decide what level of verification a task requires.

Learning operating system

Module prerequisites, concepts, outcomes, and artifacts

Prerequisites

  • No technical prerequisites

Key concepts

  • tokens
  • context windows
  • embeddings
  • multimodal models
  • tool use
  • hallucination
  • verification levels

Target audience

  • Any professional who wants accurate AI literacy without becoming an ML engineer.

Outcomes

  • Explain modern AI capabilities without buzzwords
  • Distinguish models, assistants, agents, and workflows
  • Choose appropriate verification standards for different tasks

Artifacts

  • AI mental model map
  • capability and risk glossary
  • verification decision guide

Code example

Real patterns, ready to copy into your editor.

A code reference card that frames this module's concepts in real syntax. Copy any example to study it or adapt it directly in your own editor.

Copy-ready snippets
curriculum/fd-modern-ai-mental-model.tsts
1type ModuleBrief = {2  track: string;3  difficulty: string;4  keyConcepts: string[];5  reviewGate: 'human-review-required';6};7 8export const moduleBrief: ModuleBrief = {9  track: 'Foundations',10  difficulty: 'Foundational',11  keyConcepts: [12    'tokens',13    'context windows',14    'embeddings',15    'multimodal models',16    'tool use',17  ],18  reviewGate: 'human-review-required',19};