FIL2313 ¨C Artificial intelligence and ethics

Course content

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) affects us as individuals and society as a whole in new ways. AI has the potential to solve many problems in both the public and private sectors, and it can improve and enrich our lives.

At the same time, technological innovations come with their own risks and potential for misuse. The development and use of AI therefore bring new competency needs. Society needs expertise to understand the ethical challenges associated with AI and how these challenges should be handled.

This course aims to help candidates acquire the sought-after competence. You will gain philosophical knowledge of ethical theories and how they can be applied to issues related to AI. Additionally, you will develop skills to conduct ethical assessments of concrete cases where AI is used.

In this course, you will explore questions such as: How can AI be applied in a way that respects individual interests, including privacy and fairness? What responsibilities lie with actors in the public and private sectors who implement AI-based solutions? To what extent should AI systems make decisions and initiate actions without human involvement? How should we approach the consequences AI technology may have for human labor?

Learning outcome

After having? completed the course you will have aachieved the following knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

• Understanding the structure of an AI system

• Familiarity with legal guidelines for the responsible use of AI?

• Ability to explain key concepts in ethics (such as bias, trust, fairness, responsibility and autonomy) in relation to AI

• Ability to analyze ethical and metaethical challenges associated with the development and use of AI

Skills:

• ?Ability to assess the societal and personal impact of AI systems.

• Ability to explain ethical issues arising from the application of various AI systems (such as the use of large language models, autonomous vehicles, and deepfakes).

• Ability to apply different philosophical theories to ethical issues related to AI use.

Competence?

• Ability to describe different forms of bias in datasets and AI algorithms

• Ability to conduct normative evaluations of AI use in various contexts (e.g., medical, political, legal)

• Ability to explain and communicate the ethical and societal implications of AI to a general audience

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

Teaching

10 double seminar sessions.

More information regarding compulsory activities will be published later.

Examination

More information regarding the type of exam will be published later.

Language of examination

The examination questions are given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• How to use AI as a student
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.