Ethical AI: AI essentials for everyone

Aims of the course

• To comprehend the fundamental concepts and principles of ethical AI.
• To critically analyse the ethical implications of AI technologies on individuals and communities.
• To explore real-world examples highlighting ethical challenges in AI applications.
• To discuss and develop strategies for promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in the AI rapidly evolving scenario.
• To gain insights into diverse perspectives on AI ethics and how to responsibly use AI tools.

Course content overview

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, its omnipresence brings forth complex ethical issues revolving around safety, intellectual property, privacy, and responsible use. This introductory course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these issues, fostering constructive discussions and exploration of ethical AI principles, challenges, and best practices while experimenting with tools and prompting new ways to generate content.

The goal of the course is to inspire learners to use AI responsibly, delving into AI essentials, ethical implications, and real-world applications. Through case studies, practical exercises, and engaging forum discussions, students will sharpen their critical thinking skills and effectively navigate the ethical complexities of generative AI by exploring new tools and their applications.

Target audience

• Individuals interested in exploring the ethical dimensions of AI and considerations in its technology development.
• Professionals looking to expand their knowledge on AI ethics and usage of AI tools.
• Individuals from any discipline where AI is applicable and who are interested in understanding its ethical implications.
• Those interested in policymaking, regulation, and social impact of AI technologies.

Welcome week (Week 0)

Purpose:

• personal introductions
• introducing the course
• useful reading
• personal objectives

Learning outcomes:

By studying this week, the students should have: 

• become familiar with navigating around the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and from VLE to links and back
• test your ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sort out any problems with the help of the Technology Enhanced Learning team
• learn how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
• contribute to a discussion forum to introduce yourself to other students and discuss why you are interested in the course and what you hope to get out of your studies 

Teaching Week 1: Introduction to ethical AI

Purpose:

This week aims to lay the groundwork for understanding the historical context and evolution of AI and ethics. The week explores the definitions of AI, Machine Learning, and related technologies, setting the stage for a deep dive into the ethical dimensions of AI.

Learning objectives:

• to gain insight into the historical context and evolution of AI and its ethical considerations
• to define key terms such as AI, Machine Learning, and related technologies
• to participate in forum discussions exploring the ethical considerations of AI tools for prompt engineering

Teaching Week 2: Key principles of ethical AI

Purpose:

This week aims to deepen the understanding of the key principles of Ethical AI, focusing on fairness, accountability, transparency, safety, and privacy in AI systems. The week also delves into the ethical decision-making processes inherent in AI.

Learning objectives:

• to develop a comprehensive understanding of the key principles of Ethical AI
• to explore the application of these principles across various scenarios
• to engage in forum discussions, sharing experiences and thoughts on different personal use cases of AI tools

Teaching Week 3: AI tools discovery

Purpose:

In this week the focus is on delving into AI tools for text and image generation, understanding their functionalities, and guiding participants in choosing the right tool based on specific goals. The week includes an activity where students create a personal repository of AI tools and rank them based on ethical and effective criteria

Learning objectives:

• to acquire knowledge and understanding of various AI tools for text and image generation, along with their applicability
• to learn to apply tools through a-sync exercises and discussion
• to develop the ability to prioritise tools and chose the most appropriate, depending on individual needs

Teaching Week 4: Ethical prompt engineering

Purpose:

This week is dedicated to shedding light on case studies that demonstrate the ethical application of different prompts, offering participants insights into employing user-centred approaches to create inclusive, accessible, and useful content.

Learning objectives:

• to analyse and understand various case studies, gaining proficiency in the ethical application of diverse prompts within AI
• to acquire the skills to craft content that is inclusive, accessible, and serves a practical purpose in AI applications
• to participate in forum discussions, demonstrating critical thinking abilities regarding the ethical considerations associated with AI, particularly in the context of prompt engineering

Teaching Week 5: Living with AI: challenges and opportunities

Purpose:

This week is dedicated to navigating the landscape of AI challenges and opportunities. It aims to explore the potential of AI for creating new job opportunities, enhancing efficiency, and preparing individuals for a career in a world increasingly shaped by AI systems.

Learning objectives:

• to develop a comprehensive understanding of AI's potential for generating new job opportunities and improving efficiency
• to prepare for entering a job market increasingly influenced by AI systems
• to engage in forum discussions to discuss the future of AI, its challenges, and the abundant opportunities it presents

Week 6: what next?

• assessment of student learning
• assessment of student satisfaction
• encouragement of further study

This course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.  

Our short courses are designed especially for adult learners who want to advance their personal or professional development. They are taught by tutors who are expert in both their subjects and in teaching students of all ages and experiences. 

Please note that all teaching is in English. You should have near-native command of the English language to get the maximum benefit from the course. 

Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours of self-study time, for example, reading materials, although this will vary from person to person. 

While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material). 

Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the VLE so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (using discussion boards etc).

Fees

The course fee includes access to the course on our VLE, personal feedback on your work from an expert tutor, a certificate of participation (if you complete work and take part in discussions), and access to the class resources for two years after your course finishes. 

Concessions 

For more information, please see our concessions information page. 

Alison Fordham Bursary

University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education is proud to offer the Alison Fordham bursary, which is awarded to students who wish to study on one of our short online courses via our VLE, reducing the fee paid by 50%. The bursary is limited to a single award for each set of online courses. 

Application criteria:  

• applicants should set out their personal learning motivations since priority will be given to those who are returning to learning after an extended break, or have not previously engaged with fully online learning, or are seeking to use the online short course as a bridge towards undergraduate award-bearing study
• applicants who can demonstrate financial need 

For more information, please see our bursaries information page. 

A certificate of participation and a digital credential will be awarded to those who contribute constructively to weekly discussions, exercises and assignments for the duration of the course.