The students will be able to

1. Display general knowledge of the philosophical foundations and implications of influential paradigms in AI and CNS, as well as their societal and ethical implications regarding topics such as autonomy, responsibility, and privacy. They will be able to present a well-informed opinion concerning some major philosophical and societal issues surrounding recent developments in cognitive science, namely:
   1. the topic of ‘genuine AI’, superintelligence, and the debates about the Turing Test and the Chinese room,
   2. the societal impact of ICT & AI: big data, privacy & job market,
   3. the impact of AI on responsible decision making: algocracy & explainable AI,
   4. Artificial Moral Agents: ethical decision making by machines?
   5. the potential implications of neurotechnology for personality and society,
   6. AI & the human self-image: how technology influences how we see ourselves
   7. neurotechnologies & the human values: freedom, authenticity, privacy
2. Discuss current topics at the interplay between science and society, evaluating challenges and potential interventions. Students will be able to work with others with a constructive and goal oriented attitude. They will also be able to provide proper feedback and substantial contributions to their peers’ work, according to the standards of the scientific community.
3. Express original arguments and opinions in writing according to the accepted norms for scientific publications. Students will also be able to effectively digest articles in the relevant journals, report on past and current research, and entertain an effective communication with specialists in AI and CNS, as well as with non-specialists.
4. Display a critical scientific attitude towards research in general and AI in particular, i.e. by critically evaluating arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data. Students will also be able to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge and formulate theoretical research questions according to standard academic practice.

Artificial Intelligence is one of the main contributors to an interdisciplinary approach to understand and model cognition and behavior. Increasingly, developments in AI affect everyday life, on a personal, interpersonal and societal level. During this course, we will focus on how recent developments in artificial intelligence and cognitive neuroscience raise various practical issues for individuals and society (see list of topics). Specifically, we will apply a philosophical approach (conceptual analysis, ethical discussion, identification and clarification of intuitions, basic assumptions and potential societal implications) in order to address the fundamental questions underlying these practical issues. Finally, we will practice how cognitive scientists could (and should) contribute to the public debate, thereby assisting responsible decision making about (un)desired research directions and applications of resulting technologies such as machine learning, robots and brain-computer interfaces.

Topics will include:

Students will apply the acquired skills to address the various topics mentioned above (i.e. by analysing concepts, clarifying intuitions and basic assumptions, analysing empirical research results and formulating potential implications). Finally, students will consider how, as a responsible professionals in AI, CNS or Psychology, they could contribute to the public debate, thereby assisting stakeholders in responsible decision-making about research directions and applications of resulting technologies.
These topics will be discussed on the basis of several important papers and additional background literature.