Below are the topics we plan to explore throughout the semester. This program is designed to be collaborative, so if there are additional issues or questions you’d like us to include, we encourage you to share them with us.
What Is AI, and Why Does It Matter?
What actually counts as artificial intelligence? Where do we already interact with it every day without realizing it? Why has AI become one of the most powerful technologies shaping society right now, and who benefits most from it?
Critical Thinking in the Age of AI
If AI can generate essays, answers, and advice in seconds, how do we decide what to trust? What happens to independent thinking when machines do more of our thinking for us? How can we question, verify, and evaluate AI instead of blindly accepting its outputs?
AI Bias and Fairness
Can algorithms be neutral, or do they inherit human prejudice? How does biased data shape hiring tools, policing systems, and school technology? Who is harmed when AI gets things wrong, and who is responsible for fixing it?
AI and Creativity
Can a machine really be creative, or is it just remixing human work? Does AI expand artistic possibilities or slowly replace human expression? What happens to originality, authorship, and ownership in a world where art can be generated instantly?
AI and Privacy / Surveillance
How much data about you is being collected right now? Who owns that information: you, companies, or governments? When does convenience turn into surveillance, and what does privacy even mean in an AI-driven world?
AI and Jobs / Automation
Which jobs are most at risk of being automated? Which new roles might emerge because of AI? Will technology create more opportunity, or deepen inequality? How should societies prepare for massive workforce change?
AI and the Environment
Does AI help solve climate problems, or make them worse? How much energy does training massive AI systems actually use? Can technology that consumes so many resources also be part of a sustainable future?
The Future of AI: Governance and Regulation
Who should set the rules for AI development? Can governments keep up with fast-moving technology? What happens if powerful AI tools remain mostly in the hands of corporations? What would ethical AI governance look like in practice?
