Statistics and Data Foundations for AI

Reviews / Votes

"Statistics and Data Foundations for AI provides a rigorous yet accessible introduction to the statistical theory and data analysis essential for understanding and using modern AI. The book is grounded in real-world examples from authoritative sources such as NASA and NOAA, and thereby connects core statistical concepts directly to contemporary AI applications. Its distinctive emphasis on data quality, ethics, bias, and the limitation of AI equips readers to engage critically and responsibly with AI systems. Suitable for both STEM and non-STEM audiences, the text supports hands-on learning through tools such as R, Excel, and Google Sheets, without assuming prior programming experience."

Sivaramakrishnan "Bala" Balachandar, Chairman and William F. Powers Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida

"This slender volume creatively fills the gap between Data Management, Statistics, and Artificial Intelligence, proving once again that less can be more. It embraces what many educators avoid: The use of Large Language Models (here: Google Gemini) as partners in education. Demonstrations and exercises are built on real, large datasets, not on the toy datasets from yesteryear. While being scientifically rigorous, it builds on the reader's intuition, to the point of making "Data Intuition" a primary topic of discussion."

James Geller, Professor and Chair, Department of Data Science, Ying Wu College of Computing, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

"This engaging textbook, richly laden with real world examples and case studies, gives an intuitive yet thorough view of probability and statistics, and of how we can use them to understand the stochasticity in our world, the uncertainty in our knowledge, and the workings of artificial intelligence. This is a timely book that deserves a very wide audience."

Sanjoy Dasgupta, Professor, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego

"This amazing book is written both as a textbook for data science and AI learners and educators, as well as a reference for more experienced users. Using a pedagogical approach targeting adult learners, the authors have explained the various aspects of AI, statistical foundations of AI and LLMs, and provided examples, practice exercises, and links to additional learning from current sources. The book provides thoughtful questions for discussion, illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of AI, and engages the reader with descriptions and links to applications from a wide variety of fields. It is well-researched and written in accessible yet scholarly language. As a long-time teacher of statistics and now engaged in teaching with AI, I found the book extremely valuable. I would highly recommend this book for college instructors, individuals who are self-teaching AI use, and researchers seeking to extend their knowledge of AI applications in their work. Congratulations to Dasu and Murthy on this excellent book!"

Rene Parmar, Dean, School of Education, SUNY New Paltz

"At a time when artificial intelligence is often perceived as a "black box," Statistics and Data Foundations for AI authored by Tamraparni Dasu and Geetha Murthy offers the essential map and compass needed to explore its inner mechanics. By positioning data as the fuel that drives every AI model-from training and learning to inference-the authors establish a robust foundation in data collection, storage, and management, addressing core concepts that are frequently underrepresented in traditional curricula.

What distinguishes this text is its forward-thinking pedagogy. The Data Debate features encourage students to engage deeply and thoughtfully with complex statistical concepts through structured, nonjudgmental discourse. Complementing these are the GeminiBox sections, which exemplify active learning in action-guiding students to craft precise AI prompts and, importantly, to evaluate model outputs critically for accuracy and potential "hallucinations." Together, these elements cultivate both technical proficiency and data literacy essential for working with modern AI tools.

The book succeeds in bridging theory with real-world relevance. From analyzing multivariate factors influencing hurricane trajectories to addressing ethical considerations and sampling bias, the material remains grounded in authentic data and contemporary challenges. The integration of rich visuals, real datasets, and well-designed summative projects ensures that students not only understand core principles but can apply them to meaningful, data-driven inquiries.

Finally, the inclusion of a 125-year historical perspective on the co-evolution of AI and hardware is a masterstroke. It provides invaluable context, reminding readers that today's AI revolution is the product of a century of innovation in computation and data science. Statistics and Data Foundations for AI is an indispensable resource for educators, students, and practitioners seeking to understand not just where AI stands today, but the data and statistical foundations that will shape its future."

Kiron Sharma, Professor of Computer Science, Interim Chair, Dept. Computer Science & Mathematics, Olsen College of Engineering and Science, Farleigh Dickinson University