Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

The course. An interdisciplinary course on AI ethics that needs no background in philosophy or computer science, only comfort with elementary algebra. Students approach AI from computer science, where they learn about neural networks and deep learning, and from philosophy, where the question is how one ought to act. Readings run from Turing and Searle to Shannon Vallor.

AI in the course. AI is the whole subject. Students build a neural network with backpropagation from first principles, without libraries, so that the ethical arguments rest on an understanding of how AI works. They apply ethical theories to emerging technologies and discuss the alignment problem. Students may use AI for the weekly article summaries and reading précis, with full citation. The examinations are written in class.