AAI615O Ethics and AI

[3–0, 3 cr.]

It is often said that an ethical AI system must be inclusive, explainable, have a positive purpose and use data responsibly, but what does this mean in practice? In this course, students will examine and discuss case studies showcasing both good and questionable applications of AI. Particular emphasis will be placed on the data and modeling desicions that AI developers can make in the creation and application of their systems and the implications of these decision on society. Readings will be drawn from a host of books including: Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines by John Havens;  Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code by Ruha Benjamin; Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police and Punish the Poor by Virginia Eubanks; Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World by Meredith Broussard; and Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez.