AI for an Inclusive Digital Experience

Catalog description

This course explores the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a more inclusive digital landscape. Students will examine how AI systems can be intentionally designed to be accessible, fair, and beneficial for individuals across a diverse spectrum of abilities. The course begins by mapping the digital divide, analyzing how technology has historically reinforced or bridged inequalities based on gender, socioeconomic status, and disability. Students then delve into a core methodology for designing inclusive AI interfaces through five critical pillars: Interactivity, Adaptability, Context Awareness, Predictive Assistance, and Learning and amp; Improvement. During the semester, students will: • Apply Human-Centered Design: Utilize frameworks like the Jordan's Pleasure Model to prioritize inclusion from the initial design phase. • Innovate for Diverse Needs: Explore AI solutions specifically tailored for visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive disabilities. • Mitigate Algorithmic Bias: Examine how incomplete or biased training data can lead to exclusion and learn strategies to ensure representational fairness. • Analyze Policy and Ethics: Address the long-term ethical implications of AI and advocate for disability-centric legislative agendas. By the end of the course, students will possess the skills to design AI systems that are technically robust, ethically grounded, and universally accessible. These skills are put into practice through a semester-long capstone project, where students design a real-world AI experience that addresses common inclusion challenges.