Foundations of AI in Society

This unit introduces foundational concepts about how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, relationships, play, and life stages, with special attention to data, common misconceptions, and impacts on children and other vulnerable populations. Students will examine real-world examples, ethical questions, and legal protections to prepare for applied practice and policy design in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how AI-driven changes to work, love, and play manifest across life stages and global contexts by identifying systemic effects in provided case studies
• Evaluate claims about AI capabilities by distinguishing hype from evidence and by identifying common fallacies related to data, the ‘magic wand’ misconception, and perceived invisibility
• Apply principles of data ethics and digital safety to assess risks in online mediums—including algorithmic targeting, opaque systems, and beta-testing on vulnerable groups—and produce a risk assessment for a selected scenario
• Demonstrate synthesis of child development, rights, and regulatory concepts by drafting a concise policy memo recommending safeguards and accessibility measures for children and children with disabilities in AI-enabled environments