Ethics and AI: A Philosophical Guide to Responsible Use

Overview

The primary objectives of this course are to introduce concepts around defining AI and problematizing it's regulation, doing both from a philosophical standpoint. In this course, you'll be introduced to basic philosophical methods and have the opportunity to practice with logical statements. This practice will help you as you critically evaluate arguments for validity and soundness while forming your own opinion on the ethics of AI and AI regulation.

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction

This module provides a thematic overview of course content and introduces various philosophical concepts and tools to aid in thinking about questions of responsible AI. In this module, you will acquire a shared definition of AI as well as a basic overview of philosophy as it relates to this topic.

Module 2: Argumentation

In this module, you’ll learn more about the philosopher’s tool of argumentation. You will identify types of arguments and practice constructing valid and sound arguments. This will help you, as you evaluate conflicting claims and judge evidence. These skills will be crucial in helping clarify your own thoughts and articulating them clearly.

Module 3: The Regulatory Landscape

In this next module, you will explore normative and prescriptive statements, concepts that are crucial for making informed decisions. Understanding these statements not only deepens your critical reflection on AI, but also empowers you to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of AI regulation. It also outlines some of the existing legal regulatory landscapes related to AI, as exemplified by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the European Union’s AI Act, the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, and the AI Safety Institute’s Strategic Vision. During your exploration of regulation frameworks and how to operationalize responsible AI practices, you will consider the ethical and practical implications involved in this technology. Understanding how AI is regulated, and the rationale behind these regulations, is key to making informed choices and engaging in meaningful conversation around regulation concerns in AI.

Module 4: Does "Responsible AI" Mean Regulated AI?

This module summarizes some general questions about regulating AI and more specific questions about the strengths and weaknesses of some current regulatory approaches. In this final module, you’ll utilize the argumentation tools you acquired in previous modules to grapple with some of the big picture questions of regulation: who would be responsible for it and how would it be implemented?