Nov 22, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
SOC 3450 - Sociology of Artificial Intelligence
Students explore the sociological dimensions of artificial intelligence, examining the interplay of society and the new technologies: how AI is both shaped by, and shapes, social structures, cultural norms, and social relationships and identities. We first explore the underlying ideas that enable machines to see, use language, reason, and seemingly understand, focusing on the role of machine learning in enhancing AI capabilities. We then critically examine artificial intelligence in its social and cultural contexts, investigating how it is shaped by social and economic interests; tensions and controversies surrounding algorithms, algorithmic bias, data, and coding; and its transformative impact on work, human relationships, and social inequality. Finally, we discuss the potential and promise of AI through a series of case studies, considering how it can be ethically incorporated in key areas for societal improvement, such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, public safety, and social welfare. We also examine strategies for more public and inclusive involvement in AI’s development, implementation, and oversight.
Requisites: One course in SOC
Credit Hours: 3
OHIO BRICKS: Bridge: Ethics and Reasoning
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will be able to explain how AI systems function in terms of perception, language use, and reasoning and discuss their capabilities and limitations.
- Students will be able to identify and critically discuss the role of social and economic interests in shaping AI development, regulation, and everyday use.
- Students will be able to critically analyze how social values and interests, power dynamics, and cultural practices influence the development, implementation, and regulation of AI.
- Students will be able to critically discuss the impact of AI technologies on social structures, cultural norms, human relationships, and identities.
- Students will be able to recognize their own ethical core beliefs and will gain an understanding of various ethical perspectives, theories, and concepts as they relate to AI and society.
- Students will be able to recognize, critically evaluate, and connect ethical issues related to AI.
- Students will be able to apply ethical perspectives, theories, or concepts to a decision-making situation relating to AI, and evaluate alternatives using different ethical perspectives.
- Students will be able to discuss and evaluate ways that AI can be responsibly used in work, healthcare, education, social control, governance, sustainability, and social movements.
- Students will be able to explain and critically assess strategies for more public and inclusive involvement in AI’s development, implementation, and oversight.
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