Ethics and Artificial Intelligence

Course objective

This course explores the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Students will critically examine the moral implications, biases, privacy concerns, and societal impact of AI systems. The course aims to foster ethical awareness, responsible development, and thoughtful deployment of AI technologies. Through case studies, discussions, and ethical dilemma analyses, students will develop a deep understanding of the ethical considerations in AI development and use.

Course content

1. Introduction to AI and Ethics – Overview of artificial intelligence technologies, Significance of ethics in AI development and deployment, Historical context and ethical concerns.
2. AI Ethics Frameworks – Exploring AI ethics principles and frameworks (e.g., IEEE, Asilomar Principles), Developing a foundational understanding of ethical guidelines,
3. Bias and Fairness in AI – Recognizing bias in AI algorithms and data, Strategies -mitigating bias/ ensuring fairness, Ethical implications of biased AI.
4. Transparency and Explain ability – Transparency in AI decision-making, Techniques for making AI systems explainable, Addressing the “black box” problem.
5. Privacy and Data Protection – Ethical issues related to data collection and privacy, Data anonymization and informed consent, POPI and other data protection regulations.
6. Accountability and Responsibility – Assigning responsibility for AI actions and decisions, Legal liability and ethical accountability, Corporate social responsibility in AI.
7. Ethical AI Design – Integrating ethics into the AI development lifecycle, Ethical design principles and best practices, Ensuring user-centric AI.
8. AI in Autonomous Systems – Ethics of autonomous vehicles and drones, Ensuring safety and ethical decision-making, Liability and risk management.
9. AI in Law and Justice – Ethical considerations in AI-assisted legal processes, Predictive policing and bias, The role of AI in the criminal justice system.
10. AI and Employment – The impact of AI on the job market, Ethical issues related to automation and job displacement, Reskilling and workforce transitions.
11. AI and social media – Ethical challenges in AI-driven content recommendation, AI’s influence on public discourse and echo chambers, Combating misinformation and polarization.
12. Ethical AI Research – Ethical considerations in AI research and development, Dual-use technologies and unintended consequences, Ethical review boards/ research guidelines.
13. Global Perspectives on AI Ethics – AI ethics practices in different regions, International AI ethics challenges and solutions.
14. Emerging Trends in AI Ethics – Current and future trends in AI ethics, AI’s evolving impact on society and ethics, The changing landscape of AI ethics.