The Social & Economic Impact of Artificial Intelligence (INTLPOL 200, SYMSYS 122)

Recent advances in Generative Artificial Intelligence place us at the threshold of a unique turning point in human history. For the first time, we face the prospect that we are not the only generally intelligent entities, and indeed that we may be less capable than our own creations. As this remarkable new technology continues to advance, we are likely to entrust management of our environment, economy, security, infrastructure, food production, healthcare, and to a large degree even our personal activities, to artificially intelligent computer systems. The prospect of "turning over the keys" to increasingly autonomous and unpredictable machines raises many complex and troubling questions. How will society respond as they displace an ever-expanding spectrum of blue- and white-collar workers? Will the benefits of this technological revolution be broadly distributed or accrue to a lucky few? How can we ensure that these systems are free of bias and align with human ethical principles? What role will they play in our system of justice and the practice of law? How will they be used or abused in democratic societies and autocratic regimes? Will they alter the geopolitical balance of power, and change the nature of warfare? Are we merely a stepping-stone to a new form of non-biological life, or are we just getting better at building useful gadgets? The goal of this course is to equip students with the intellectual tools, ethical foundation, and psychological framework to successfully navigate the coming age of superintelligent machines. (Note: This course is pre-approved for credit at SLS and GSB. No programming or technical knowledge is required.)