[This is a certified Communication-intensive (CI) Course which meets all of the requirements endorsed by HKU’s Senate, including (i) the teaching assessment of written and oral communication ‘literacies’; and (ii) at least 40% of the course grade assigned to communication-rich assessment tasks.]

Course Description

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a postulate about the future, but is already bringing noticeable impacts to our current society. Have you ever wondered how Netflix recommends your best movies? How does OKCupid search for a partner to match with you? How does Facebook show you advertisements in a similar manner? On a larger scale of decision-making and social change, will the AI revolution lead to a reform in our economy or a major disruption? Is it “simply” another Industrial Revolution? If AI, as some argue, can “think” in a human way, how can we ensure that AI maintains a similar ethical standard? This course will start by introducing what AI is, how it works, and then move on to its individual and social impact. We will explore existing or forthcoming applications of AI in different aspects of our lives, as well as in economic and social policy, and reflect on the ethical questions we will need to address critically.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Understand what AI is and evaluate how AI is different from traditional involvement of technology in novel scenarios.
2. Evaluate how AI has already affected our lives in different aspects, analysing how it will affect us in the future and criticising the pros/cons of their impacts.
3. Develop a proposal on how AI can be usefully applied for different careers or for daily life scenarios.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Second semester (Wed)