First-Year Seminars 110JT - AI and Social Justice

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are ubiquitous, ranging from digital personal assistants to healthcare management. While the benefits of AI are touted widely, how does AI negatively impact society? How do AI systems mirror and strengthen biases already embedded in the data used to train them and in our social structures? Via what mechanisms might AI stigmatize and further marginalize vulnerable populations? In this course we will gain an understanding of how AI systems work, explore the societal dimensions of technology, learn to evaluate, assess, and question its impact on society, and consider how AI can be used as a tool to achieve equity and increase social justice.

Mount Holyoke first-year students only, by placement.