CSCA 5274: AI Ethics and Society's Future

  • Course Type: MS-CS Elective, MS-AI Breadth
  • Specialization: Artificial Intelligence Ethics
  • Instructor:ÌýDr. Casey Fiesler
  • Prior knowledge needed:ÌýTBD

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  • Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  • Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program discipline.

Course Grading Policy

AssignmentPercentage of Grade
Quizes25% (5% each)
Peer Reviews50% (10% each)
Final Project25%

Course Content

Duration: 8 hours, 22 minutes

This module explores how technological change has reshaped work over time, and how current conversations about AI fit into that longer history. We’ll examine ethical questions related to automation, surveillance, productivity, and worker autonomy, while also considering how workplace outcomes are shaped by human choices and incentives rather than technology alone.Ìý

Duration: 6Ìýhours, 16 minutes

AI has changed how people learn, teach, and evaluate knowledge. In this module we’ll examine different forms of AI use in education, the ethical implications of institutional responses to AI, and what these technologies might mean for the future of learning. You will be be encouraged to reflect on your own use of AI and what kinds of learning experiences you value.

Duration: 6Ìýhour, 18 minutes

This module explores how AI is reshaping creativity, authorship, and creative labor. We’ll examine different conceptions of creativity, ethical debates around generative AI, and questions about ownership, artistic identity, and human-AI collaboration. This module considers not only how AI can contribute to creativity, but what kinds of creative futures we want to encourage.

Duration: 5Ìýhours, 42 minutes

Humans often treat technologies as social actors, and AI systems in particular are often designed to encourage emotional and social interaction. In this module, we’ll explore both the potential benefits and ethical risks of social AI, including questions related to loneliness, manipulation, dependency, and design choices. Throughout, we’ll consider how different technological and business decisions shape the kinds of relationships people develop with AI systems.

Duration: 5Ìýhours, 48 minutes

This module focuses on how we both anticipate and shape possible futures with AI. Alongside speculative approaches to thinking about unintended consequences and societal impacts, we’ll also explore practical AI ethics tools and methods used to identify, assess, and mitigate risks in real-world contexts. Rather than treating the future as inevitable, this module emphasizes the role of human choices, institutional incentives, and collective action in shaping the future.

Duration: 2Ìýhour, 27 minutes

Final Exam Format: This module contains materials for the final project. If you've upgraded to the for-credit version of this course, please make sure you review the additional for-credit materials in the Introductory module and anywhere else they may be found.Ìý

The final project is a Peer Review. There are 7 prompts. The goal of this final exam is to synthesize your learning from across the course and apply it to real-world and future scenarios.

Notes

  • Cross-listed Courses: CoursesÌýthat are offered under two or more programs. Considered equivalent when evaluating progress toward degree requirements. You may not earn credit for more than one version of a cross-listed course.
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