Ethics in AI

Description

"With great power, comes great responsibility." As an incoming Computer Scientist, you will explore and discuss the ethical quandaries that continue to emerge in the field, particularly surrounding artificial intelligence.  We will talk about variety of ethical issues that arise when creating and using AI systems and engage with them via small group discussion, presentations, and more.

There will also be a significant focus on core strategies that will help you gain awareness of the “hidden curriculum” of college,  gain confidence with making connections across campus, practice maintaining a balance and attending to self-care through dedicated sessions and guest lectures.

Course Staff and Logistics

• Instructor: Varun Gandhi (vgandhi@umass.edu)

• Office Hours: LGRC A208

• Textbook: No Textbook is required for this course! 

• Logistics: 

  1. 1. We’ll meet once a week on Fridays — 12:20-1:10 PM if you are in Section 1, and 9:05-9:55 AM if you are in Section 2 — in Hasbrouck Addition 107.

     2. The best way to reach me outside of class is via email.

Grading Breakdown:

• Engagement & Participation — 30%   Participation includes arriving to class on time and prepared for the day’s scheduled activities, including having completed any assigned readings. It also includes classroom conduct. The expectation is that our class feels like a welcoming and safe learning space for everyone; to have “good” participation is to act in accordance with that expectation.

• Canvas Check‑ins — 10% Short weekly questionnaire on Canvas. These should take about 3-4 minutes to complete.

• Guest Lecture Reflections — 30% There will be 4–5 guest lectures. Students will write a reflection for each using the guided questions provided. The top 3 scores will count toward the final grade (10% each).

• College Homework — 30%

  • Event Assignment (10%): Attend one campus/career/club/LRC event outside of class and write a short reflection.

  • Resources Scavenger Hunt (10%): Complete a guided worksheet designed to demystify UMass support resources.

  • Study Report (10%): Submit a study strategies reflection/report.

Schedule:

Please check out the syllabus for up to date schedule. The schedule is subject to change.

Presentations

Week 1: Intro

Week 2: What is AI?

Week 3: Bias in AI

Week 4: Labor in the age of AI

Week 5: AI Alignment

Week 6: Sustainability issues and AI

Week 7: The Human Cost of AI, Intellectual Property

Week 8: AI Policy

Week 9: Visit from CICS Advising

Last Updated: Oct 31, 2025

This website is inspired by my FYS instructor's website from when I took this course as an undergraduate at UMass!