AI Ethics & Regulation (B-KUL-H0P05A)
Aims
Students have good insight in the ethical and legal frameworks that should steer the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), or more broadly, autonomous and intelligent systems (A/IS). They understand the nature of law and ethics and the similarities and differences between the two; they also understand the interactions between law and ethics, law and technology, and ethics and technology. They have insight into fundamental human values that underpin ethics and law, and are able to critically reflect, in light of those fundamental values and principles, on AI-driven innovations in a number of sectors (like insurance, automated vehicles, media, health care, etc.). They are able to implement normative principles in risk anticipation processes and mitigation strategies, also in cases where relevant applicable law is not available or not yet developed.
Previous knowledge
No specific previous knowledge required
Is included in these courses of study
- Master handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica (Leuven) (Minor: Data science) 120 ects.
- Master of Artificial Intelligence (Leuven) (Specialisation: Big Data Analytics (BDA)) 60 ects.
- Master of Artificial Intelligence (Leuven) (Specialisation: Engineering and Computer Science (ECS)) 60 ects.
- Master of Artificial Intelligence (Leuven) (Specialisation: Speech and Language Technology (SLT)) 60 ects.
- Master of Information Management (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen: computerwetenschappen (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master of Engineering: Computer Science (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master of Business and Information Systems Engineering (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master of Business and Information Systems Engineering (Leuven) (Minor: Data Science) 120 ects.
- Master of Actuarial and Financial Engineering (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen: artificiële intelligentie (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Postgraduaat in de toegepaste ethiek (Leuven) (Track technologie) 35 ects.
Activities
4 ects. AI Ethics & Regulation: Lecture (B-KUL-H0P05a)
Content
The lectures are structured in following modules spread over 13 lectures:
Introduction (3 lectures)
- What are the various normative mechanisms in society? Cf. Lessig
- What is the nature of ethics and law?
- Brief introduction to ethics and law - What are the similarities and the differences between ethics and law?
- Where does ethics enter law?
- In what ways can ethics provide answers where relevant applicable law is not (yet) available
- How do law and ethics, law and technology, ethics and technology interact?
- Brief introduction to the technological determinism vs constructionism debate
- Normative consequences of the mutual interactions between technological developments and fundamental ethical and legal concepts and outlooks (e.g. autonomy, personhood, etc.) - What are the latest developments in Europe (and around the world) in terms of guidelines and standards on ethical (or trustworthy) AI?
Requirements of trustworthy AI: Ethical and legal perspectives, critical discussion and implementation (3 lectures)
- Autonomy and personhood: Human agency and oversight, responsibility, accountability, and liability
- Safety and security: Societal and environmental wellbeing, Technical robustness and safety
- Justice: Diversity, non-discrimination, equality and fairness
- Enforcement and regulatory oversight mechanisms (technical and non-technical methods); whistleblowing regulation.
Dual Use: ethical backdrop, policies and implementation (1 lecture)
Case studies (5 lectures) – for instance:
- media & fake news
- automated driving
- banking and insurance
- judiciary
- health/enhancement
Comparison EU with non-EU perspectives on ethical / trustworthy AI (1 lecture)
Course material
Electronic reader on Toledo (consisting of legal and policy documents, research articles, etc.)
Evaluation
Evaluation: AI Ethics & Regulation (B-KUL-H2P05a)
Explanation
The duration of the written exam is 2 hours. De duur van het schriftelijk examen is twee uur.