Disruptive 4.0 A Multidisciplinary Approach of Artificial Intelligence

The 4th industrial revolution has arrived. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a reality and is playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives, showing no signs of slowing down. However, as with any progression in civilisation, the rise of AI raises some important questions. One such question is how it will change if/when it becomes fully autonomous. The current debates revolve around a series of key issues, namely the ethics, the implications at a sociological and economic level and on how to properly translate the technical feature of AI into legislation.

As a teaching methodology, this course is a novel concept in the field of AI studies, offering a unique holistic understanding of emerging technologies. The course introduces the new concept of 'TELS' related to the study of AI, meaning that for a deep understanding of AI, a multidisciplinary approach is required, combining technology (computer science), economics, law and sociology.

Through the course, you will learn how to differentiate between simple automation systems, machine learning, deep learning and narrow or general AI. You will also come across international AI strategies employed by several countries and international bodies (such as the European Union, China, South Korea, US, Germany, or UK).

You will also become familiar with international AI regulatory debates, which include topics such as the following:
- Are new regulations necessary for AI or is it possible to extend the application of existing legal concepts and protocol?
- In the case of damages caused by the actions of an AI robot, are traditional legal mechanisms regulating civil liability still reliable? Do the existing laws account for the unpredictable behavior of AI?

Moreover, with this course, you will have the chance to discuss the moral and ethical dilemmas presented by AI and to acknowledge the social impacts of using it, for example:
- What are some potential issues associated with the use of facial recognition?
- Should we use AI to benefit society and community or solely for increasing profits?
- Do AI robots explicitly built for war require the same level of human control?
- Should we allow AI to take on social responsibilities and be our caregivers?

At the same time, you will also understand how AI is changing the future of our jobs. The course includes a session focussed on AI's role in business management, through which you can learn valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Along with the potential real-world applications of AI, you will also familiarize yourself with the concept of 'demystifying' AI. As such, you will evaluate the real limitations and downsides along with the benefits of AI.

In order to accomplish the course goals, a variety of industry professionals and researchers will provide up to date strategic insights. The course materials are highly revered publications in the form of academic research papers. Famous cases (such as the Uber case, the first reported fatal crash involving a self-driving vehicle and a pedestrian in the US) will also be discussed and interpreted in class.

Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course. CEA's recommended credits are based on the contact hours assigned by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam): 15 contact hours equals 1 U.S. credit