OIM 3601: Societal Impacts of AI
4 advanced credits
The AI and Societal Impact course is a foundational and non-technical course in AI. It
covers the foundations of AI and the different domains of society and business that AI
impacts. The course also describes the historical perspective of technology adoption and
compares it with the current trajectory of AI (viewed as a disruptive technology). The
course further delves into societal equity implications for AI, such as bias and
discrimination, its effect on jobs, wages, and skills, as well as accessibility and inclusion.
The last part of the course addresses the impact of AI on privacy and security. The
course concludes with a discussion on human-AI interactions and the design of AI-based
systems based on technological and ethical implications.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define key terms and differentiate between technological capabilities of AI and its
limitations.
• Identify the different domains and how AI may impact each domain.
• Understand the challenges in terms of AI’s impact on social equity and the future
of employment.
• Create a logical design of AI systems considering AI’s impact on media, culture, and its ethical use.
Prerequisites: OIM 2000