700.856 (22W) Responsible Robotics & AI: Ethics, Governance and Society
Überblick
Weitere Informationen zum Lehrbetrieb vor Ort finden Sie unter: https://www.aau.at/corona.
- Lehrende/r
- LV-Titel englisch Responsible Robotics & AI: Ethics, Governance and Society
- LV-Art Vorlesung-Kurs (prüfungsimmanente LV )
- LV-Modell Präsenzlehrveranstaltung
- Semesterstunde/n 2.0
- ECTS-Anrechnungspunkte 4.0
- Anmeldungen 60 (30 max.)
- Organisationseinheit
- Unterrichtssprache Englisch
- mögliche Sprache/n der Leistungserbringung Englisch
- LV-Beginn 06.10.2022
- eLearning zum Moodle-Kurs
Zeit und Ort
LV-Beschreibung
Intendierte Lernergebnisse
Course aims
Students get familiar with normative and social dimensions of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies and learn to reflect on how technological developments affect and are affected by their social environments.
Lehrmethodik
Course methods
The course consists of a) lectures on key perspectives on responsible robotics & AI, b) individual reflection exercises pertaining to course readings and themes, and c) a group project exploring the relations between AI/robotics and the social.
Inhalt/e
Contents
Artificial intelligence and robotics have recently received widespread public attention as perhaps the most impactful technological developments of the present. The use of algorithms, autonomous systems and machine learning is expected to help solve a plethora of societal problems and improve established practices in domains as diverse as medicine, logistics, environmental protection, allocation of social services, and many more. Yet, much like any technology, AI and robotics are not without their problems. Observers and critics have pointed to the potential for discrimination, erosion of public trust and lack of transparency if novel technologies are not carefully managed and developed in responsible ways. In this course, we draw on perspectives that interrogate the relations between technology and society to consider what responsible robotics and AI would look like. Rather than asking whether these technologies are good or bad, we consider how they relate to their social environment, which moral and political effects they may have, but also what the benefits and dangers of these technologies may be under specific circumstances. Students are thus invited to think of robotics and AI in relation to the broader contexts in which they develop and to reflect on how both current and future developments may contribute to a better world.
Literatur
Readings
All course readings will be made available via the course’s Moodle page.
Prüfungsinformationen
Prüfungsmethode/n
- Write three reading responses (1-2 pages), in which students provide a short summary of the texts’ main arguments and a brief evaluation of what they learned from the texts, what they liked/did not like about it. Students can select texts according to their own interests and preferences. Each reading response should discuss all readings (usually two) for a class session and be uploaded on Moodle by Wednesday evening before the class in which texts are assigned.
- Write a reflection on how a specific example of artificial intelligence/robotics affects their everyday life (2-3 pages). Students should clearly identify the example they discuss and where and how they encounter it. They should then discuss if and how they think this particular technology has changed how things are done, and what the advantages/disadvantages are. This assignment should be uploaded on Moodle and is due on 23 October.
- Write a response letter (max. 1 page) to a media article on artificial intelligence/robotics. Write as if you are responding directly to the article, and indicate if and why you agree with ethical and social aspects of the particular case that are (not) reflected in the article. Try to draw on the lectures and course readings in developing your argument. A few examples will be provided; students are free, however, to choose their own, as long as the original source is provided with the assignment. This assignment should be uploaded on Moodle and is due on 4 December.
Group project
Groups of 4-5 students jointly develop the idea for an application of artificial intelligence or robotics that may help solve a specific societal problem. Over the course of the semester, students will a) identify a problem to work on, b) consider the technical opportunities and limitations for solving this problem, c) reflect how society may influence technology development and how technology can change society and d) consider the advantages and disadvantages of their proposed technology. This is a speculative exercise: you do not actually have to develop the technology, and it does not even have to be possible according to the current state of technology. Parts of the class meetings will be reserved for work on the group project. The end results will be discussed in the final class meeting in January. Groups will receive a collective grade for the project work.
Prüfungsinhalt/e
Contents
Students are expected to be able to understand and engage with perspectives on ethics, governance and social dimensions of robotics and AI as presented in lectures and course readings. Students are further expected to develop reflexive capacities regarding the social dimensions and effects of technology development.
Beurteilungskriterien/-maßstäbe
Grading criteria
Grading for the individual exercises will be based on students’ ability to show an understanding of the relations between technological developments and their social environment, and an ability to reflect on what responsible robotics and AI would look like. All assignments are expected to meet criteria of good scientific practice in terms of references, structure, layout, etc.
Grading scheme
| Assignment | Max. points |
| Reading responses | 20 |
| Reflection on an example of AI/robotics | 25 |
| Response letter | 15 |
| Group project on the interactions between AI/robotics and the social | 40 |
Aggregate point totals for all assignments correspond to grades according to the following table:
| Point range | Grade |
| 86-100 | 1 |
| 76-85 | 2 |
| 66-75 | 3 |
| 56-65 | 4 |
| 0-55 | 5 (fail) |
Beurteilungsschema
Note BenotungsschemaPosition im Curriculum
- Bachelorstudium Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
(SKZ: 295, Version: 22W.1)
-
Fach: Artificial Intelligence
(Pflichtfach)
-
4.4 Responsible Robotics & AI: Ethics, Governance and Society (
2.0h VC / 4.0 ECTS)
- 700.856 Responsible Robotics & AI: Ethics, Governance and Society (2.0h VC / 4.0 ECTS)
-
4.4 Responsible Robotics & AI: Ethics, Governance and Society (
2.0h VC / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Fach: Artificial Intelligence
(Pflichtfach)