SOW-BKI248
Societal Impact of AI
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleSOW-BKI248
Credits (ECTS)6
CategoryB2 (Second year bachelor)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Social Sciences; Artificial Intelligence;
Lecturer(s)
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. W.F.G. Haselager
Other course modules lecturer
Coordinator
prof. dr. W.F.G. Haselager
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. G. Mecacci
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
dr. G. Mecacci
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2021
Period
SEM1  (06/09/2021 to 28/01/2022)
Starting block
SEM1
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
The student 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, agency and privacy. She 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’ and the debates about the Turing Test and the Chinese room,
    2. the societal impact of ICT,
    3. the relation between traditional AI and CNS with Embodied Embedded Cognition,
    4. the implications of recent developments in CNS for our understanding of conscious will,
    5. the potential implications of neurotechnology for personality and society,
    6. the ethical, legal and societal implications of current advances in robotics,
    7. professionalism in AI research and its applications (scientific integrity)
  2. Discuss current topics at the interplay between science and society, evaluating challenges and potential interventions. The student will be able to work in a team with constructive and goal oriented attitude. She will also be able to provide proper feedback and substantial contributions to her 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. The student 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.
Content
Cognitive science (sometimes also labeled as cognitive neuroscience, CNS) is an interdisciplinary approach to understand and model cognition and behavior. The major disciplines are cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, philosophy of mind, linguistics, cognitive economics, anthropology and ethology. Increasingly, developments in these research areas affect everyday life, on a personal, interpersonal and societal level. During this course, we will focus specifically on how recent developments in cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence and neuroscience raise various practical issues for individuals and society (see list of topics). Moreover, 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 cognitive enhancement, robots and brain-computer interfaces.

Topics will include:
  • The possibility of 'genuine AI' and the debates about the Turing Test and the Chinese room (Will computers and robots ever be 'really' intelligent? Will they become ‘superintelligent’?)
  • The relation between traditional AI and embodied embedded cognition (Are we our brains, or is cognition embodied and embedded?)
  • The implications of recent neuroscientific developments for our understanding of conscious free will (Are we free to do what we want? What would it mean to be free from your brain?)
  • The potential implications of new neurotechnologies for the individual and society (Would you practice cognitive enhancement on a daily basis?)
  • The societal effects of ICT (How will the future versions of smartphones & social webforums change the way you interact with other people?)
  • The impact of robots on human life and society (Will robots take control of the world or will we marry them?)
  • Professionalism in AI research and its applications (How can you, as a practicing cognitive scientist, deal responsibly with the above topics?)
You 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, you will consider how, as a responsible professional in AI, CNS or Psychology, you 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 (notorious; infamous) papers and additional background literature.
Level
AI-B2
Presumed foreknowledge
Students will need to have completed at least one full year of prior study in the field of Cognitive Science, Artificial Intelligence, Psychology or Philosophy.
Test information
Mid-term (45%), end-term (45%) oral examinations, and intermediate-evaluations in workgroups (10%).
A resit is possible for the mid- and end-term examinations, not for the intermediate-evaluations.
Specifics

Recommended materials
Reader
For this course there is a reader with about 20 journal articles or book chapters. The selection changes every year to remain up-to-date with the current societal debate. Here are some representative examples from the past years:
Articles
Horowitz, M. C. (2016). Public opinion and the politics of the killer robots debate. Research and Politics, (January-March), 1–19. http://doi.org/10.1177/2053168015627183
Articles
Klaming, L. & Haselager, W.F.G. Did My Brain Implant Make Me Do It? Questions Raised by DBS Regarding Psychological Continuity, Responsibility For Action and Mental Competence in Neuroethics (2010): DOI 10.1007/s12152-010-9093-1.
Articles
Malle, B. F. (2016). Integrating robot ethics and machine morality: the study and design of moral competence in robots. Ethics and Information Technology, 18(4), 243–256. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-015-9367-8
Articles
Roberts, J. A., Yaya, L. H. P., & Manolis, C. (2014). The invisible addiction: cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3(4), 254–65. http://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.015
Articles
Turing, A.M. Computing Machinery and Intelligence in Mind (1950) LIX: 236, 433-460).
Articles
Wegner, D.M. The Mind's Best Trick: How We Experience Conscious Will in Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2003) 7, 2: 65-69).
Articles
Urban, Tim (23 January 2015). "The AI Revolution: The Road to Superintelligence". Retrieved April 6, 2015. http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-1.html

Instructional modes
Lecture
Attendance MandatoryYes

Working group
Attendance MandatoryYes

Remark
Attendance required

Tests
Partial Exam 1
Test weight45
Test typeOral exam
OpportunitiesBlock SEM1, Block SEM1

Partial Exam 2
Test weight45
Test typeOral exam
OpportunitiesBlock SEM1, Block SEM2

Assignments
Test weight10
Test typeAssignment
OpportunitiesBlock SEM1