Course details

8.3529

Introduction to the Ethics of AI (Lecture & Discussion Group)

 L
WS 2022 Prof. Dr. Rainer Mühlhoff Hybrid
4h/wk
6 ECTS 		B.Sc modules:
CS-BWP-PHIL - Philosophy for Cognitive Science
KOGW-WPM-PHIL - Philosophy of Mind and Cognition
M.Sc modules:
CC-MW - Distinguishing elective courses
CS-MWP-PHIL - Philosophy for Cognitive Science

CS-BW - Bachelor elective course
CS-MW - Master elective course
Doctorate program 		Thu: 10-12

This lecture provides an introduction to the emerging field of the Ethics of AI. It is open to all interested students of all levels, including those from the humanities, as well as scientific and technical disciplines. The lecture is an ideal starting point to get an orientation in the field and to possibly start engaging with more specialized courses and/or research projects in the context of the Ethics of AI group at the IKW. The lecture will provide an overview of problems, philosophical theories and methods that comprise the field of Ethics of AI. This includes both the philosophical foundations of ethics and critical theory as well as different technological phenomena and legal aspects of AI. A particular focus will be contemporary data-driven and machine learning-based AI technology and its applications in digital consumer media. As we will see, questions of social equality and fairness are central to today's ethical concerns about AI, so that ethics needs to adopt a societal perspective, analyzing constellations of power, discrimination and subordination that relate to AI technology. We will also touch on relevant legal debates such as privacy and data protection legislation. This lecture is offered every winter term. There will be a written exam / Klausur at the end of the semester to earn 4 ECTS points. The lecture is hybrid and will be available in three formats: On site in the lecture hall; live stream on BBB; and asynchronous participation via video recordings.