Rainbow Lifelong Learning Institute

This course explores some of the many impacts the arrival of Artificial Intelligence will likely have on our society. We’ll start with a brief overview of AI’s history, the various types of AI, what’s driving today’s massive investments, and how AI is expected to evolve. Then we’ll look at AI’s impact on work and the overall economy, followed by a review of anticipated contributions to human knowledge and the associated risks. Next we’ll discuss the possible benefits and perils that could accompany AI’s widespread integration into our lives. We’ll finish with a discussion of AI governance, potential regulatory options and challenges, and how society might reap the rewards of AI while mitigating its numerous risks.

*Please Note: This is not a course on how to use AI.

The course is lecture based using powerpoint slides to illustrate key concepts and guide each class. Questions will be encouraged. The instructor will provide students with the slide deck after each class. Although he will provide readings for further information after each class, they are optional.

Class 1: Background & Context

What is AI, its history and evolution, key concepts and terminology, what is driving the push for AI, key industry companies/products/individuals, what’s on the AI horizon.

Class 2: Work and the Economy

What is the optimistic case for AI, how AI is already improving productivity, will AI replace people in the workplace or simply augment them, the myriad risks if AI advances too rapidly or decimates employment, AI’s impacts on the environment, is AI a financial bubble.

Class 3: Knowledge and Truth

How AI is already advancing science and research, AI impacts on education, the problem of hallucination, deepfakes, and the potential for manipulating people.

Class 4: Human Agency and Safety

How AI can help individuals, will AI infantilize humanity via cognitive surrender, the benefits and risks of AI companions and parasocial attachment, surveillance and manipulation, supercharged cybercrime, bio-terrorism, AI enabled warfare, AI going rogue

Class 5: Regulation and Governance

What are regulation drivers and concerns, who should be responsible, politics of AI regulation, AI regulation in the USA versus other countries and opportunities for international regulation, ownership and options for sharing AI generated wealth, the international picture, backlash against AI and datacenters.

Before class the instructor will provide students with a glossary and a guide to key companies, products and people. After each class he will distribute a list of optional readings for further exploration of concepts introduced in class. 

It will be helpful for students to review the Glossary sent out before the first class, but it’s not required. All terms will be explained in class as they arise.