ATS2292 · The ethics of artificial intelligence

Overview

Advances in artificial intelligence are poised to transform almost every aspect of modern society – ranging from how we work to how we create art, how we practice medicine to how we fight wars, and how we sentence criminals. This unit draws from moral and political philosophy to ask what role artificial intelligence should play across each of these domains. It examines the social and ethical implications of new and emerging digital technologies, and considers how policymakers, technology companies, and individuals ought to respond to the relevant ethical issues. Topics discussed may include: the ethics of AI in healthcare; moral decisions made by autonomous vehicles; the use of AI in criminal sentencing; the prospect of machine consciousness; and the regulation of dual-use AI technologies that have both beneficial and harmful applications.

Areas of study: Bioethics

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate familiarity with recent advances in artificial intelligence, and describe their potential impacts on society
2. Demonstrate understanding of major ethical concepts linked to various uses of artificial intelligence, such as accountability, transparency, and 'algorithmic injustice'
3. Think critically about key ethical and policy issues raised by new and emerging digital technologies
4. Make informed judgements about these ethical and policy issues.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.