Aims of the course
- To comprehend the fundamental concepts and principles of ethical AI.
- To critically analyse the ethical implications of AI technologies on individuals and communities.
- To explore real-world examples highlighting ethical challenges in AI applications.
- To discuss and develop strategies for promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in the AI rapidly evolving scenario.
- To gain insights into diverse perspectives on AI ethics and how to responsibly use AI tools.
Target audience
- Individuals interested in exploring the ethical dimensions of AI and considerations in its technology development.
- Professionals looking to expand their knowledge on AI ethics and usage of AI tools.
- Individuals from any discipline where AI is applicable and who are interested in understanding its ethical implications.
- Those interested in policymaking, regulation, and social impact of AI technologies.
Course content overview
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, its omnipresence brings forth complex ethical issues revolving around safety, intellectual property, privacy, and responsible use. This introductory course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these issues, fostering constructive discussions and exploration of ethical AI principles, challenges, and best practices while experimenting with tools and prompting new ways to generate content.
The goal of the course is to inspire learners to use AI responsibly, delving into AI essentials, ethical implications, and real-world applications. Through case studies, practical exercises, and engaging forum discussions, students will sharpen their critical thinking skills and effectively navigate the ethical complexities of generative AI by exploring new tools and their applications.
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online)
Orientation Week: 6-12 January 2025
Teaching Weeks: 13 January-16 February 2025
Feedback Week: 17-23 February 2025
Teaching Week 1 - Introduction to ethical AI
This week aims to lay the groundwork for understanding the historical context and evolution of AI and ethics. The week explores the definitions of AI, Machine Learning, and related technologies, setting the stage for a deep dive into the ethical dimensions of AI.
Learning objectives:
- To gain insight into the historical context and evolution of AI and its ethical considerations.
- To define key terms such as AI, Machine Learning, and related technologies.
- To participate in forum discussions exploring the ethical considerations of AI tools for prompt engineering.
Teaching Week 2 - Key principles of ethical AI
This week aims to deepen the understanding of the key principles of Ethical AI, focusing on fairness, accountability, transparency, safety, and privacy in AI systems. The week also delves into the ethical decision-making processes inherent in AI.
Learning objectives:
- To develop a comprehensive understanding of the key principles of Ethical AI.
- To explore the application of these principles across various scenarios.
- To engage in forum discussions, sharing experiences and thoughts on different personal use cases of AI tools.
Teaching Week 3 - AI tools discovery
In this week the focus is on delving into AI tools for text and image generation, understanding their functionalities, and guiding participants in choosing the right tool based on specific goals. The week includes an activity where students create a personal repository of AI tools and rank them based on ethical and effective criteria.
Learning objectives:
- To acquire knowledge and understanding of various AI tools for text and image generation, along with their applicability.
- To learn to apply tools through a-sync exercises and discussion.
- To develop the ability to prioritise tools and chose the most appropriate, depending on individual needs.
Teaching Week 4 - Ethical prompt engineering
This week is dedicated to shedding light on case studies that demonstrate the ethical application of different prompts, offering participants insights into employing user-centred approaches to create inclusive, accessible, and useful content.
Learning objectives:
- To analyse and understand various case studies, gaining proficiency in the ethical application of diverse prompts within AI.
- To acquire the skills to craft content that is inclusive, accessible, and serves a practical purpose in AI applications.
- To participate in forum discussions, demonstrating critical thinking abilities regarding the ethical considerations associated with AI, particularly in the context of prompt engineering.
Teaching Week 5 - Living with AI: challenges and opportunities
This week is dedicated to navigating the landscape of AI challenges and opportunities. It aims to explore the potential of AI for creating new job opportunities, enhancing efficiency, and preparing individuals for a career in a world increasingly shaped by AI systems.
Learning objectives:
- To develop a comprehensive understanding of AI's potential for generating new job opportunities and improving efficiency.
- To prepare for entering a job market increasingly influenced by AI systems.
- To engage in forum discussions to discuss the future of AI, its challenges, and the abundant opportunities it presents.
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Virtual Learning Environment
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards etc).
Certificate of participation
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
