0164 - AI and Society: AI for a Greater Good

Course Description

This course is part of the UBC Micro-certificate in AI and Society: AI for a Greater Good.

This micro-certificate will explore the implications and ethical considerations of combining creativity and automation and the importance of eliminating biased data regarding racial, cultural, gender or political identities for AI-powered decision-making. Learners will gain an understanding of ethical considerations and potential challenges that can emerge during the development and deployment of AI solutions while exploring the positive potential of AI in contributing to the common good, emphasizing its broader societal benefits and responsible implementation. This micro-certificate addresses the gaps that industry and research think tanks have identified as issues with AI technologies that are increasing as AI adoption grows worldwide. In the contexts of AI development, use and governance, there is a need to establish ethical standards that address concerns surrounding bias, accountability, transparency and human rights.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

• Gain a fundamental understanding of what AI is and how the public interacts with AI on a daily basis
• Learn how AI is built and identify AI problem-solving applications
• Learn about the impact that AI has on work and society
• Explore the ethical challenges that can arise in the development and use of AI
• Understand how AI can be applied to the common good

Course Outline

The course starts with gaining a comprehensive understanding of AI and exploring the current scope of AI technologies. Through engaging discussions and activities, learners will grasp the significance of AI in our daily lives. Delving deeper, the course navigates the complex terrain of defining AI, encouraging students to critically analyze ongoing debates surrounding its conceptual limitations and implications. The second half of the course shifts focus towards the accessibility of AI technologies, examining issues of equity and inclusion in AI development and implementation.

As the course progresses, it offers practical insights into leveraging generative AI for personal learning, empowering learners to effectively harness AI tools while exploring and considering the ethical dimensions of AI applications and the challenges of responsible AI deployment. The course is designed to equip learners with practical AI skills, bridging theoretical knowledge with hands-on applications to foster real-world problem-solving abilities.

Through this holistic journey, participants emerge with a nuanced understanding of AI's multifaceted impacts and the proficiency to navigate its ethical and practical dimensions.

Capstone project: Learners will focus on completing a capstone project for the final module of the program. You will identify and present a prototype framework to address ethical and logistical challenges and solve a set of societal or personal problems caused by the use of AI. The main competency that learners will gain from the capstone project is how to engage the problem-solving cycle: learners will identify problems which can and should be solved by AI and use pre-determined AI resources to solve a set of societal and ethical problems. To build this competency, learners will develop a paper prototype, consider ethical issues and potential mitigation strategies, and discuss if or how their prototype could be taken forward.

The curriculum topics for each module are listed below:

Week 1: Introduction to the Course

Week 2: AI in Everyday Life

Week 3: Defining AI debate

Week 4: Ethical AI

Week 5: How to use GenAI for Personal Learning

Week 6: AI and Access

Week 7: Practical AI Skill

Week 8: Capstone Project

How am I assessed?

You're assessed on successfully completing weekly activities, including your contributions to discussion posts and applied case study projects (based on real-life scenarios). These activities are marked using a proficiency scale, and your instructor provides you informal feedback in the live sessions.

While you're not assessed on your attendance of the live sessions, we encourage you to attend these classes, so you don't miss the opportunity to learn and interact with your instructor and other participants. All sessions are recorded in case you miss one.

Expected effort

Expect to spend approximately 5-7 hours per week completing all learning activities, including attending online live sessions.

Technology requirements

All course content is provided in the online courses. To take this program, you'll need access to:

• an email account
• a computer, laptop or tablet, using Windows or macOS
• the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
• a reliable internet connection
• a video camera and microphone

Course format

This part-time, 100% online course consists of instructor-supported real-time classes that allow for a high degree of personal engagement and interactivity, with subject matter experts available during each weekly virtual evening session (PST). These virtual classes are also recorded for later viewing. Each week, learners will review readings and videos, and apply their knowledge in exercises and case studies, and contribute to a discussion forum and connect with other students.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• AI and Society: AI for a Greater Good : Required Course
• Artificial Intelligence in Digital Media : Learning Pathway Option 1: AI and Society: AI for a Greater Good
• Cloud and Technology Transformation : Learning Pathway Option 3: AI and Society: AI for a Greater Good