SBS-HC286 Ethics for an AI Era: Aligning Business, Regulation and Technology to Unleash Human Potential
This course addresses the ethical dilemmas facing America and the World at the dawn of the AI era head-on. It begins by evaluating the motives and behaviors shaping the corporate/business and regulatory/political relationship from the robber barons in 1890 to today. It traces waves of technology development from the internet in 1985 to today, and explores how unchecked profit motives steer technical decisions that ultimately harm humans. It reviews the foundations, potential and status of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption.Only then does it address the core issue of AI "model ethics" (bias, fairness, safety, transparency), labor augmentation vs. replacement, and the environmental costs of AI. The final course content looks toward the future of AI through the regulatory lens, including EU Human-Centric AI Act and the US AI Action Plan, and the AI Arms Race. The final project requires students to directly struggle with the difficult question of AI Alignment.
Offered
Fall, Spring