Undergraduate Opportunity

Dr. Hamid Ekbia, director of the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute, is teaching an introductory course on artificial intelligence (AI) every fall semester.

AI and Humanity (MAX 300)

What kind of a humanity might emerge from the widespread infusion of Al in our lives and how can we shape this in our favor? With that as the central question, this course intends to introduce Al to students from different backgrounds and disciplines from arts, engineering and (natural and social) sciences to humanities, law and media. Al is at once a set of techniques, a way of seeing and thinking, and a method of organizing our social world. It has a known history but an uncertain future. With an eye on history, we will chart out possible trajectories for the future. Starting with key concepts and basic techniques of Al, the course will outline the thinking behind them and the way it shapes our social relations— from economic, ecological and cultural to legal, moral, even romantic relationships. All that is needed for this course is intellectual engagement. No technical background is required.

Related Courses at Syracuse University

Please visit our Answers page for a list of other courses at Syracuse University related to autonomous systems policy and artificial intelligence.

Graduate and Undergraduate Research Opportunity

Fall 2024 AI Policy and Society Seminar: Wednesdays, 3:45-5:05 p.m., 120 Hinds Hall (iSchool)

The AI policy and society seminar is intended to provide a campuswide forum for discussions on the techno-scientific, socio-historical, political-economic, legal-ethical and governance-policy aspects of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. Offered every fall and spring semester, this 90-minute seminar is a weekly gathering of students, faculty and staff to discuss and learn about research related to AI. The first 30 minutes of the seminar will be a “coffee hour” discussion of AI in the news. The next hour will be the main session. Each week's session has one or two student or faculty leads who can: 

1. guide the discussion of readings, 
2. present their own research paper in progress to get feedback or; 
3. introduce an outside speaker who will present their research.

Before each session, the lead will email the seminar participants with the work to be presented (e.g., readings, draft of a paper, etc.) and a paragraph describing the context of the work. Seminar participants can sign up to lead one to five sessions. Faculty members who agree to lead five consecutive sessions on a common theme will receive a research stipend for their efforts. Enrolled students who present their work in progress and later get their work accepted at a conference will receive a $750 conference travel stipend. This course is offered for one credit only.