STS 102: Artificial Intelligence in Society

Unlike traditional AI models that rely on large datasets and algorithms to classify or predict outcomes, generative AI models are designed to learn the underlying patterns and structure of the data and generate novel outputs. In this lecture, information scientist Mirella Lapata will present an overview of this rapidly evolving field.

The rapid development of generative AI models raises concerns about their misuse, particularly in the context of disinformation campaigns, deepfakes and online harassment. In this lecture, Ethics Fellow Mhairi Aitken examines what this means for online and offline safety and discusses how society might be able to mitigate these risks.

AI can now generate human-like language and artwork, but what other doors might it open in the future? And how can we harness AI to make great technological leaps possible? Computer scientist Michael Wooldridge discusses the possibilities and challenges of generative AI models.

In this lecture, Abu-Mostafa will explain the science of AI in plain language and explore how the scientific details illustrate the risks and benefits of AI. Between the extremes of "AI will kill us all" and "AI will solve all our problems," the science can help us identify what is realistic and what is speculative, and guide us in our planning, legislation, and investment in AI.

Kate Crawford discusses the impact of early AI systems already being felt, bringing with it challenges and opportunities, and laying the foundation on which future advances in AI will be integrated into social and political domains.

SIDGE AI Panel with Dr. Safiya Noble, Dr. Latanya Sweeney, and Katy Knight. This panel with leading public interest technologists discussion will center communities in the conversation about AI and go beyond AI hype and doomism to explore an alternative future: one rooted in wellbeing, ethics, and justice.