SP50339: AI as social and political practice: technology, society & politics
 Academic Year: | 2019/0 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary:
| CW 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Description:
| Aims: This unit will: * explore and evaluate key theoretical and political debates around the development, emergence and adoption of (digital) technologies in social and political practice * explain the position of AI, machine-learning and robotics in relation to these debates, and assess their distinctiveness as specific technological developments * explore the ways in which contemporary developments in the use of automation, AI and robotics (may) challenge political, social and economic relationships, including those of power and inequality * apply these social scientific understandings to specific case examples of the application of such technologies in politics, the economy, and public policy/governance Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit students will have: * in-depth understanding of the parameters of debates around the development, emergence and adoption of (digital) technologies * advanced critical understanding of the distinctiveness of AI as specific technological development and its implications for political economy, politics and social practices. * advanced critical understanding of how these implications are reflected in, or challenged by, the adoption of AI, machine-learning and robotics in specific empirical cases. Skills: By the end of this unit, students will be able to: * explain and evaluate the main historical and contemporary debates explaining the development, adoption and application of AI/machine-learning/robot technologies (T/A) * explain and evaluate the social, political and economic distinctiveness of AI & related technologies as specific set of technological developments, and their wider implications (T/A) * critically evaluate how AI (automation, machine-learning & robotics) are applied in specific empirical cases, and assess the social, political and economic implications of these applications (T/F/A) * develop a coherent line of argument that evaluates alternative positions, both orally and in writing (T/F/A) * use appropriate evidence, standards of logic and argumentation to support such arguments (F/A) * apply critical theoretical understanding to specific empirical cases (F/A) * use appropriate standards of referencing, citations and presentation (F/A) Content: 1: Introduction to the unit: technology as social and political practices CONTEXTS & THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES 2: Machines, monsters and the social world 3: Learning machines and digital personhood 4. Political economy & power in digital environment IMPLICATIONS 5: Political economy and automation 6: Politics in the online information environment 7: Digital statehood and algorithmic rule 8: Citizenship, new technologies, and the idea of `the public(s)' APPLICATIONS Weeks 9-11: Students prepare presentations on key applications/case examples of AI/ML/robotics. Cases will vary year-on-year, but are likely to include some of the following: courts & criminal justice; migration & humanitarian governance; social media and digital life; drones/security technology; digital propaganda, fake news. 12: Conclusion: overview and preparation for final assessment. |
| Programme availability: |
SP50339 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Computer Science
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Notes:
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