It seems to me like all the resources I can find on AI are either implementation-dependent, or WAY over my head. Can I please be directed to some simple resources on AI (in general, not specific to games), preferably ones that don't rely too heavily on any particular programming language and that don't assume too much prior knowledge? If the latter is impossible, then what prior knowledge should one have before beginning study in this field? One of the major problems I have in this undertaking is that there's a plethora of information out there, but I'm not qualified to judge what is good and what is crap. It is an unfortunate observation of mine that tutorials can only be judged by those that don't need them (barring obvious fail that anyone can spot, of course). So I really appreciate help from those who know more of these things than I (which is basically everybody). Thank you!

There are a ton of threads on this very board that have recommendations of the books you would want to pick up. Mat Bucklands "Programming Game AI by Example" is on the of the top recommended ones. Ian Millington's is good. Brian Schwab's AI Game Engine Programming. My book (linked below) is released today and is not so much in-depth code as it is conceptual "ways of thinking" (yes it does have math and code in it).

For sites, the best collection of game AI information is over at AIGameDev.com. Plus the forums are frequented by more professionals than there are here.

As for prerequisites, other than programming ability (esp. in C++), there really isn't one.