Course Objectives:

The Critical AI Literacy Course takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding Artificial Intelligence. This course examines its widespread applications across various sectors, illustrating how AI reshapes numerous facets of society and industry. Students will engage with societal impacts, ethical dilemmas, and the risks associated with AI technologies, gaining insights into AI’s influence on decision-making, privacy, and human interactions while exploring the balance between advancement and ethical responsibility. We will address ethical issues that AI technologies present, including copyright infringement, low-wage worker exploitation, biased systems, and the significant environmental impacts of artificial generative intelligence. Students will explore how these complex issues intersect with AI development and application, gaining a deep understanding of the ethical responsibilities inherent in AI use. Through lectures, discussions, case studies, and hands-on projects, class participants will critically assess AI systems, explore the balance between innovation and regulation, and consider the future implications of AI. This course will give students the analytical tools and frameworks necessary to navigate the ubiquitous use of AI, encouraging informed and responsible engagement with AI technologies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Literacy: Students will gain a working understanding of the different types of AI models and their implications.
2. Critical Understanding: Students will be able to understand the implications of AI in society.
3. Analysis: Students will analyze policies, laws, and ethical standards for using AI. 
4. Develop and Engage: Students will develop a stance regarding AI laws and ethical use and engage others in discussing and critiquing AI deployment in applications.

 Schedule

Week	Meeting Dates	Assignment Due/Readings	Classwork
1	Week 1 Date	Recent articles on Artificial Intelligence.	Course overview: Introduction to AI and sociotechnical perspectives.
2	Week 2 Date	Overview of early created intelligence in mythology.	The evolution of AI; Key historical milestones
3	Week 3 Date	Descartes’ Discourse on Method (excerpts); Philosophical articles on Artificial Intelligence.	Philosophical debates on AI, mind, and machine
4	Week 4 Date	Selected chapters from R.U.R.; Analysis of AI in early film	Representation of AI in literature, film, and media
5	Week 5 Date	Introductory texts and videos on machine learning;	Fundamentals of machine learning and AI technologies
6	Week 6 Date	Articles on data collection and usage in AI	The role of data in AI development, types of datasets,
7	Week 7 Date	Articles on AI transparency and the “black box” problem; Case studies on AI decision-making.	AI and data privacy concerns: Role of AI in surveillance
8	Week 8 Date	Excerpts from Race After Technology; Articles on ethical AI and bias	Case studies on the societal impact of AI in pop culture
9	Week 9 Date	Excerpts from The Age of Surveillance Capitalism; Articles on data privacy laws and AI surveillance, Midterm Projects.	AI and data privacy concerns: Role of AI in surveillance, implications of AI in global surveillance.
10	Week 10 Date	Articles on COPPA, GDPR, and other privacy regulations	Global data privacy laws; Current state of AI regulation in the US
11	Week 11 Date	Atlas of AI (excerpts); Articles on AI’s energy consumption and environmental effects.	Environmental impact of AI technologies; AI and sustainability
12	Week 12 Date	Articles and predictions on the future of AI; Analysis of the technological singularity	Selected articles on AI in media; Case studies on the societal impact of AI in pop culture
13	Week 13 Date	Selected articles on AI in media; Case studies on the societal impact of AI in pop culture	Speculative Futures of AI: The Technological Singularity?
14	Week 14 Date	Final project presentations; Peer feedback and discussion	Review of key concepts; Student presentations
15	Week 15 Date	Final project submission; Course evaluation and feedback