Philosophy and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Catalog description

This course will consider some major themes in the philosophy and ethics of Al, both as they arose in its development, and in Al's current resurgence in the form of recent generative Al and advances in robotics and related technologies. How should we understand Al's place in the world, and in our lives? Do we have ethical obligations to Al, or new ethical obligations to one another in light of Al? What are the major theoretical questions concerning Al and philosophical themes such as consciousness, experience and embodiment, language, and knowledge? What practical questions does Al raise about issues such as work and automation, love and sex, self-driving cars, race and gender discrimination, or our ability to make autonomous decisions and understand algorithmic decisions affecting our lives? This course will focus on such central problems in the philosophy and ethics of Al, starting with a grounding in some classic texts and then turning to contemporary work on the topic. Satisfies Magis Designated Ethics and Designated Technology. P: Magis Ethics and Philosophical Ideas. CR: Sr. stdg.