Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence: Ethics and Policy, 7.5 Credits

Contents

Recent years have seen rapid progress in the development of artificial intelligent systems. This class will address ethical and societal questions arising from the increasing presence of these systems in our lives, such as: Artificial intelligence allows companies and governments to collect and analyse unprecedented amounts of data about us. How does the use of these data for surveillance and manipulation threaten our autonomy and privacy? How do we prevent artificial intelligences from acquiring morally objectionable biases? Who is responsible for the decisions of autonomous automated weapons? What ethical rules should self-driving cars implement? Will artificial intelligence make most human jobs superfluous, and would this be bad? And might superintelligent artificial systems threaten the very existence of humanity?

Expected learning outcomes

After having completed the course students will have: 

Knowledge and understanding: 

• displayed knowledge and understanding of central concepts, theories, problems, and arguments in the contemporary debate of ethical and societal questions about artificial intelligence. 
• Displayed knowledge and understanding of philosophical issues about ethics, moral responsibility, autonomy, privacy, justice, and equality.  

Skill and ability: 

• displayed an ability to write philosophical texts of good linguistic quality; 
• displayed an ability to produce and assess arguments concerning the course materials. 

Assessment and attitude: 

• displayed an understanding of strengths and weaknesses of central arguments in the contemporary debate of ethical and societal questions about artificial intelligence. 

Required Knowledge

90 ECTS credits in philosophy, computer science, history, sociology, political science, or equivalent, or a Degree encompassing at least 180 ECTS credits, or equivalent (previous higher education studies in at least one of the subjects listed is highly recommended). Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6. Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

The course consists of seminars and lectures, essay writing and discussion. If the course is given online, the teaching and student activities will be internet-based.   

Students are required to have access to a computer and a stable internet connection.

Examination modes

The examination consists of writing assignments and active participation in seminars. On the course as a whole, the grades given are Fail (U), Pass (G), or Pass with Distinction (VG). In order to pass the course as a whole, all mandatory parts must be passed as well. The final grade of the course is a summary assessment of the results, and the course is passed only after all mandatory parts are passed.  

Students who fail the examination have a right to retake the examination within two months after the first examination, but not earlier than 10 working days after the results from the original examination has been given to the students and a copy of the exam has been made available. A re-exam must be offered once again within a year. A student who has passed an examination may not be re-examined. 

Students who have twice failed a test for a course or part of the course have the right to request from the Faculty director of studies at Faculty of Arts that another examiner be appointed for future re-examinations unless special reasons contradict this.

If examinations or compulsory learning sessions cannot be repeated in accordance with current rules for re-examination, they may be replaced by other forms of assignments. The extent and content of such an assignment shall be in proportion to the missing compulsory sessions. 

Deviations from the examination form of the syllabus can be made for a student who has decisions on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaptation of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the expected study results of the syllabus. At the request of the student, the teacher responsible for the course, in consultation with the examiner, must quickly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision should then be communicated to the student.
 
In the event that the syllabus expires or undergoes major changes, students are guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the regular examination) according to the regulations of the syllabus on which the student was originally registered for a maximum period of two years from the end of the previous syllabus or the course has ceased to be offered.