Course Overview
This course explores the ethical, social, and environmental implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related technologies through the lens of core ethical principles, including human dignity, bias, fairness, privacy, safety, explainability (XAI), transparency, responsibility, and governance. Through theoretical discussions, real-world case studies, and hands-on labs, students will examine how AI systems can be designed to mitigate bias, enhance transparency, and protect user privacy while also considering AI’s environmental impact, including its role in electronic waste, energy consumption, and resource extraction.
Students will investigate AI’s broader social, political, and economic effects, such as labor displacement, economic inequality, and systemic bias reinforcement. The course also examines how AI-driven technologies can perpetuate global power imbalances and disproportionately impact communities. To provide a structured ethical foundation, students will explore philosophical frameworks that inform AI ethics, enabling them to evaluate the ethical dimensions of AI decision-making. Through hands-on practice, students will learn to measure bias using fairness metrics, implement bias mitigation strategies, and apply XAI techniques to improve AI model transparency and accountability. They will also be introduced to ethics impact assessments, guiding them in identifying key stakeholders and evaluating risks and unintended consequences of AI systems. By engaging with real-world case studies, students will critically analyze AI’s impact, assess international regulatory frameworks, and explore governance strategies to ensure AI operates within ethical and legal boundaries.
By the end of the course, students will be equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to navigate the ethical complexities of AI development and deployment. They will learn to critically assess AI’s societal role and adapt their approach to AI innovation in ways that prioritize equity, accountability, and sustainability.