Algorithmic Inequalities: Gender, Race and Power in Big Tech.

Catalog description

Semester course; 3 seminar hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. The course explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and gender, race and power from a feminist and critical theory perspective. Students will examine how AI systems reinforce existing inequalities, from biased algorithms in hiring and policing to the erasure of marginalized voices in data collection. Through interdisciplinary readings, case studies and hands-on analysis, Questions will be investigated, such as: Who designs AI? Whose knowledge is prioritized? How do race, gender and sexuality shape technological development and deployment? Issues of surveillance, digital labor and automation while envisioning ethical and just alternatives will be critically engaged. The course is designed for students interested in technology, social justice and feminist critique and inquiry. By the end of the semester, students will develop analytical tools to assess AI’s societal impact and propose pathways for equitable technological futures.