Schedule

This schedule for the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Spring 2020 includes a weekly summary of in-class activities, and pre-class and post-class responsibilities. For more detailed descriptions of what these responsibilities are, see Course Organization.

All assigned materials (with a few exceptions) are available on this Schedule.

Summary of non-weekly deadlines 

  • Final-Project Group-of-3 Preferences: Friday, February 28
  • Poster (if you want us to print it): Tuesday, April 7
  • Late-Term Exam: Thursday, April 9
  • Conference Fair: Tuesday, April 14 (2:35 am – 3:50 pm, Sarratt Promenade)
  • Individual Reflection of Final Project: Wednesday, April 15
  • Final Collaborative Group Project Report (1 per team): Friday, April 17

Please feel free to share any resource you find relevant to class materials and discussions HERE, in the collaborative class archive. This document can serve as a repository of the knowledge/learnings class members have gained and created throughout the course.

WEEK 1: AI & PERSONHOOD

The Spectrum of AIs: Weak (narrow), Strong (general), and Super AIs

To Do before January 7 class:

  • See pre-class email that asks you to study these pages and start the materials for January 9

Class meeting (Tuesday, January 7 ):

  • Attendance
  • Introductions
  • Course Overview, including weak AI, strong AI, and super AI
  • Read Isaac Asimov’s short story “Robot Dreams” aloud in class
  • Discussion

To Do before January 9 class:

These responsibilities deviate from the “Typical Week” format under Course Organization.

Class meeting (Thursday, January 9 ):

To Do after January 9 class:

These responsibilities return to the “Typical Week” format under Course Organization.

 WEEK 2: AI & ENGINEERING (SMART CITIES) 

To Do before January 14 class:

  • See “For Week 2” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w2, by Monday, January 13 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

Class meeting (Jan 14):

To Do before Jan 16 class:

Class meeting (Jan 16):

  • Form Assignment Groups of Three (for next week)
  • Attendance
  • Discuss smart cities with guest discussant Professor Dubey (see HERE for his slides on Smart Cities & Nashville applications)

To Do after Jan 16 class:

WEEK 3: AI & CREATIVITY

To Do BEFORE January 21 class:

  • See “For Week 3” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w3, by Monday, January 20 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

Class meeting (January 21):

  • Attendance
  • Discussion on Computational Creativity material

To Do BEFORE January 23 class:

  • Group Assignment GA-w3: Upload by Wednesday, January 22 at 12:00 pm

Class meeting (January 23):

To Do after Jan 23 class:

  • Post responses R-w3 to at least one other class member’s VF post by Saturday, January 25 at 12:00 pm using the ‘reply’ function on Brightspace.
  • Group Assignment GA-w4: Upload by Wednesday, January 29 at 12:00 pm
  • For Week 4
    • Watch Black Mirror (TV show) season 3 ep 6 “Hated in the Nation” (available on Netflix)
    • Read the Section “AI Applications for Defense”, pp. 9-15 of Artificial Intelligence and National Security. Updated November 21, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R45178.pdf
    • Read AI Open Letter by Future of Life Institute
    • Optionally explore further resources

WEEK 4: AI and the MILITARY

To Do BEFORE January 28 class:

  • See “For Week 4” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w4, by Monday, January 27 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

In Class (January 28):

  • Attendance
  • Discuss material

To Do BEFORE January 30 class:

  • Group Assignment GA-w4: Upload by Wednesday, January 29 at 12:00 pm

In Class (January 30):

  • Form Assignment Groups of Three (for next week)
  • Attendance
  • Under the Hood (AI Theory) on Black Mirror episode – (technical background)
  • Discuss material and state of art with Professor Sztipanovits

To Do after January 30 class:

WEEK 5: AI & SOCIAL JUSTICE

To Do BEFORE February 4 class:

  • See “For Week 5” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w5, by Monday, February 3 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

Class meeting (February 4):

To Do BEFORE February 6 class:

  • Group Assignment GA-w5: Upload by Wednesday, February 5 at 12:00 pm

Class meeting (February 6):

To Do after February 6 class:

WEEK 6: AI & MEDICINE 

  • Guest Discussant: None Colin Walsh, Biomedical informatics / psychiatry / medicine

To Do BEFORE February 11:

  • See “For Week 6” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w6, by Monday, February 10 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

In Class (February 11):

  • Submit GA-w6 by 11:59 am on Wednesday, February 12
  • Joint summary and discussion 

To Do BEFORE February 13:

In Class (February 13):

  • Form Assignment Groups of Three (for next week)
  • Attendance
  • Discussion

To Do After February 13 Class:

  • Post responses R-w6 to at least one other class member’s VF post by Saturday, February 15 at 12:00 pm using the ‘reply’ function on Brightspace.
  • Group Assignment GA-w7: Upload by Wednesday, February 20 at 11:59 pm
  • For week 7

WEEK 7: AI & THE LAW

To Do BEFORE February 18 class:

  • See “For Week 7” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w7, by Monday, February 17 at 12:00 pm.

In Class (February 18):

  • Attendance
  • Small group discussion on class readings and VF

To Do BEFORE February 20 class:

  • Group Assignment GA-w7: Upload by Wednesday, February 19 at 11:59 pm

In Class (February 20):

  • Attendance
  • No GA-w8, but instead, write three final project ideas (individually) on shared google doc; complete before coming to class on Tues Feb 25. Also, by Wednesday Feb 26 at 12:00 noon, post up to 5 names of individuals who you would like to team with on the final project. We will take these preferences into account when assigning teams. Post these names to Brightspace under the folder “Final Project Group Preferences”.
  • Discuss texts and issues with Professor Ruhl  
  • Blog posts – select one, tailor it, and send it to us (to be posted on the University Course Breakthru Blog)
  • Under the Hood (AI Theory): Evaluating machine learning and AI systems

To Do after February 20 class:

  • Post responses R-w7 to at least one other class member’s VF post by Saturday, February 22 at 12:00 pm using the ‘reply’ function on Brightspace.
  • Write three final project ideas (individually) on shared google doc; complete before coming to class on Tues Feb 25. Also, by Wednesday Feb 26 at 12:00 noon, post up to 5 names of individuals who you would like to team with on the final project. 
  • Blog posts – select one, tailor it, and send it to us (to be posted on the University Course Breakthru Blog) – by the end of spring break
  • For Week 8

WEEK 8: SUPERINTELLIGENCE 

  • Guest Discussant: Michael Bess

To Do BEFORE February 25 class:

  • See “For Week 8” above
  • Write three final project ideas (individually) on shared google doc; complete before coming to class on Tues Feb 25. Also, by Wednesday Feb 26 at 12:00 noon, post up to 5 names of individuals who you would like to team with on the final project (on Brightspace). 
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w8, by Monday, February 24 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

In Class (February 25):

  • Attendance 
  • Under the Hood (AI Theory) – Singularity, Intelligence Explosion 
  • Discuss texts in small groups 

To Do BEFORE February 27:

  • Submit Final-Project Group-of-3 preferences by Wed, February 26 at 11:59 pm as a single Word or plain text file under Assignments on Brightspace, NOT Discussions: who you would prefer working with (top 4, at least, and can be “anyone”)

In Class (February 27):

  • Form GA Groups of Three (for week 10)
  • Attendance
  • Check out prior student projects on our library digital archive 
  • Mid-term Self Reflection: write and submit in class (10 min) Submit on Brightspace
  • Michael Bess as guest discussant
  • Project group formation to be announced by the weekend (Sunday, at the latest): group members should negotiate and brainstorm over spring break, and bring back a solidified project idea

To Do after Feb 27 class (before, and throughout Spring Break)

WEEK 9 Spring break (February 29 – March 8 )

  • Opportunity to catch up on missed VF posts and responses – by the end of spring break

WEEK 10: Classes Cancelled

  • Guest Discussant: none

To Do BEFORE March 10:

  • See “For Week 10” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w10, by Monday, March 9 at 12:00 pm.

In Class (Tuesday, March 10):

  • Attendance
  • Discuss Readings
  • Center for Teaching SGA (Small Group Analysis), starting at 3:25 pm

To Do BEFORE March 12 class:

  • Meet with your project groups
  • Submit Group Assignment GA-w10 on Brightspace by Wednesday March 11 at 12:00 pm

In Class (March 12):

  • Attendance
  • To Do after March 12 class: 

WEEK 11: AI & and Environmental Sustainability / EDUCATION

  • Guess Discussant: no guest — Sarah Burriss will lead Edu part

To Do BEFORE March 17 class:

  • See “For Week 11” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w11, by Monday, March 16 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

In Class (March 17): Sustainability

To Do BEFORE March 19 class:

  • Post Group Assignment GA-w11  by Wednesday March 18 at 12:00 pm

In Class (March 19): Education

To Do after March 19 class:

  • Post responses R-w11 to at least one other class member’s VF post by Saturday, March 21 at 12:00 pm using the ‘reply’ function on Brightspace.
  • Group Assignment GA-w12 Submit by Wednesday March 27 at 12:00 pm
  • For Week 12
    • Watch the short film The Heavenly Creature (or purchase or rent on Amazon Video): this is the second short film in a compilation of three, collectively entitled Doomsday Book. The Heavenly Creature begins around 00:38, right after the bible quote).
    • Read Helen (Haerin) Shin’s “Readymade Bodhisattva“
    • Optionally explore further resources

WEEK 12: AI and DIVINITY

To Do BEFORE March 24 class:

  • See “For Week 12” above
  • Virtual Forum post VF-w12, by Monday, March  23 at 12:00 pm. Adhere to the word limits specified under Course Organization.

In Class (March 24):

  • Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/191180543
  • Discuss film & essay with Clifford Anderson  in small groups, calling upon student expertise
  • Reminder – group project posters (submission deadline next Thurs)

To Do BEFORE March 26:

  • Post Group Assignment GA-w12  by Wednesday March 25 at 12:00 pm

In Class (March 26):

To Do after March 26 class:

WEEK 13: 

  • Project Group work / Elevator Pitches

To Do BEFORE March 31 class:

  • See “For Week 13” above

In Class (March 31):

To Do BEFORE April 2 class:  

  • Work on synth exam essays and get ready to submit
  • Prepare elevator pitches 

In Class (April 2): 

  • Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/191180543
  • Yuh-Fen (librarian) visit via Zoom – forms to sign for the Class Digital Archive
  • Group Project Updates: elevator pitches
  • Prepare for final project exhibition (virtual format/presentation – 10 min each, be prepared to present in random order upon joining class; open format (ppt, verbal, performative, etc.) 

To Do after April 2 class:VUIR_license_CC

  • Prepare to submit Synthesis Exam 

 

WEEK 14: 

To Do BEFORE April 7:

  • See “For Week 14” above

In Class (April 7):

  • Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/191180543
  • Work on final project in breakout rooms  / discuss digital archive (sign and post FORM to Brightspace, individually, once you’ve reached an agreement)

To Do BEFORE April 9:

  • Submit synth exam – through Brightspace, before midnight on April 7th
  • Work on group project 

In Class (April 9):

To Do After April 9 Class:

  • Prepare for Class Conference Fair
  • Work on Collaboratively Written Report

WEEK 15: CONFERENCE FAIR

To Do BEFORE April 14 class:

  • Prepare for Conference Fair  

In Class (April 14):

To Do BEFORE April 16 class

  • Submit Individual Reflection on Project, individually written (min. 250~ max. 500 words) to VF by Wed, April 15 11:59pm

In Class (April 16)

  • Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/191180543
  • Conference Fair continued: virtual location (10 min each, screen share) 
  • Retrospective Town Hall  (open conversation on class experience and learnings – with food!) 
    • Go around and share thoughts & reflections about the course experience, suggestions and ideas for future iterations, etc.
    • Sign and submit VUIR_license_CC – license agreement form for the digital archive
    • Course eval

To Do After April 16 class

Classes End (Monday, April 20)

Reading Day (Tuesday, April 21, 2018)

Douglas H. Fisher (Computer Science; Computer Engineering; Communication of  Science & Technology — affiliated)
Haerin Shin (English; Cinema & Media Arts; Asian Studies — affiliated)