Emerging Digital Technologies and Safety

This unit examines contemporary digital technologies—artificial intelligence, networking and infrastructure (5G, cloud, IoT), and next‑generation internet concepts (metaverse, blockchain, NFTs)—and their implications for communication, careers, and personal data. Students investigate ethical, security, and professional practices, learn practical tools for early workplace deployment of AI and cloud services, and develop plans to protect and shape their digital presence and legacy.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the development, capabilities, and limitations of contemporary AI systems (from Turing to transformers) and recommend appropriate AI tools and deployment strategies to solve a defined workplace problem
• Evaluate the impact of emerging infrastructure and interface technologies (5G, cloud computing, Internet of Everything, and voice) on digital communication workflows and justify infrastructure choices for a small digital project
• Demonstrate understanding of new internet concepts (the new internet, the metaverse, blockchain, tokenization, and NFTs) by explaining their basic mechanics and assessing their opportunities and risks for digital content creation and monetization
• Apply privacy, security, and professional best practices by creating a personal digital first‑impression plan, safety protocols for responsible AI use, and a strategy for curating and preserving a digital legacy