Course summary

Artificial intelligence is transforming society. It is reshaping industries, the workforce, governance, and daily interactions and relationships. AI has potential to bring about positive changes in society. However, issues such as algorithmic and data biases, surveillance, mis- and disinformation, sustainability, as well as concerns around labour exploitation and job displacement, threaten to erode public trust, widen social inequalities and destabilise human society. The challenge is to ensure AI serves humanity ethically and equitably while being subject to responsible legal, political, and social oversight. This course breaks new ground in offering a broad interdisciplinary approach to creating and maintaining ethical and responsible AI, both today and into the future. It will provide you with trailblazing tools to become a holistic and strategic expert on AI’s role in society and to critically engage with the big challenges it creates. Questions explored revolve around the hopes and harms of AI in society – who controls the future of AI? Will AI widen the gap between rich and poor? How will industry and policy react to the implementation of AI? How will we govern AI? As an expert in how to implement and govern responsible AI, you will have a highly sought after skillset for a diverse range of employers, sectors and career opportunities as AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives. This course is developed and taught by Leeds Institute for Societal Futures (LISF), a global innovative Institute at the University of Leeds that addresses challenge-based and real-world issues in interdisciplinary ways across our research and teaching. We embed co-creation and co-delivery at the heart of our courses – our curricula are co-designed by expert academics with industry, NGOs, and government bodies to ensure real-world relevance. Industry, public sector and third sector organisations specialising in AI will support case studies, guest lectures, internships, and placements. As a student at our Institute, you will work closely with a group of fellow students supported to engage in genuine collaboration between students, academic experts and industry partners. At LISF we aim to educate and nurture the next generation of collaborative, solution-focused, impactful individuals who will go on to be leaders within ethical and responsible AI globally – whether as innovators, practitioners, policymakers or academics - engendering significant societal progress and the improvement of lives.