Reflections on Artificial Intelligence

Preparation

First, read pages 265 to 282 in Blown to Bits. This is the first half of Chapter 9: “The Next Frontier: AI and the Bits World of the Future,” up until “Bits Lighting Up the World.”

Next, read the article: “Even Imperfect Algorithms Can Improve the Criminal Justice System.”

Prepare for our class discussion by making notes about what stood out to you, what you particularly agreed or disagreed with, things you had questions about, etc.

Optional: Consider also reading:

In Class

In class, we will discuss the readings. After the discussion, you will have time to start the written component of the assignment.

Submit

Choose a topic you’re interested in (e.g., medicine, finance, politics, education, communication, law, gaming, astronomy, psychology, transportation, literature, international policy, etc.). Read and link to at least three recent news articles that relate to developments in AI in that field. At least one article should discuss the social impact of applying AI to this field.

Write at least 500 words total, answering the questions shown in the template below. Also, share any thoughts on how this activity could be improved in the future.

Template

How is AI being applied in the field you researched?
What ethical concerns (e.g., issues of bias and fairness) are associated with this application of AI?
What is currently being done, if anything, to address these concerns?
How do you think these ethical concerns should be addressed?
Also, include a references section with links to at least three relevant articles

You can incorporate ideas from the discussion, but all the writing for this assignment should be your own. Submit your response on Canvas as a PDF.

Learning Goals

Students will:

Consider ethical issues associated with AI systems
Develop oral and written communication skills

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Stanford’s BJC materials, which served as a basis for the writing prompt.