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IS41560

Academic Year 2024/2025

AI Ethics & Auditing (IS41560)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Thompson Kwarkye
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In the era of rapid technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force with the potential to revolutionise various aspects of human life. However, this technological evolution raises many ethical questions requiring immediate attention and thoughtful consideration. This unique AI Ethics and Auditing module integrates social and moral perspectives to explore foundational issues such as the relationship between AI and human autonomy, ethical frameworks, bias, privacy and AI safety. The module provides practical skills in analysing AI’s influence on society, including the future of work and AI’s effect on the environment. Learners will also gain practical expertise in defining the scope of audit efforts, including determining the objective for assessment and specifying which aspects of the AI system will be scrutinised. The module adopts multidisciplinary perspectives, drawing from an array of disciplines, including philosophy, law, computing, information and communication studies, political economy and environmental studies, to provide a holistic understanding and essential skills in the ethical dimensions inherent in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Students will immerse themselves in the complex intersection of AI and ethics through engaging online lectures and activities. This will include:
1. Engagements with multimedia presentations covering key AI ethics and auditing topics, incorporating videos, audio clips, and interactive elements to enhance learning.
2. Asynchronous online discussion forums to facilitate peer-to-peer interaction and debate on ethical issues in AI, allowing students to share perspectives and engage in critical dialogue.
3. Modularised content to allow students to progress through the course at their own pace, accessing materials and completing assignments according to their schedules.
4. Scheduled virtual office hours with instructors to allow students to seek clarification, ask questions, and receive personalised guidance.
5. Access to online resources such as scholarly articles, books, and websites to supplement course materials and support students’ independent research.

Indicative Module Content:

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Lectures

24
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students will engage with online lectures and activities. This will include:
1. Engagements with multimedia presentations covering key AI ethics and auditing topics, incorporating videos, audio clips, and interactive elements to enhance learning.
2. Asynchronous online discussion forums to facilitate peer-to-peer interaction and debate on ethical issues in AI, allowing students to share perspectives and engage in critical dialogue.
3. Modularised content to allow students to progress through the course at their own pace, accessing materials and completing assignments according to their schedules.
4. Scheduled virtual office hours with instructors to allow students to seek clarification, ask questions, and receive personalised guidance.
5. Access to online resources such as scholarly articles, books, and websites to supplement course materials and support students’ independent research.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Project - Design an Audit for a Proposed AI System. Involves a state-of-the-art review of existing approaches and building on these to design a bespoke ethics audit of a specific kind of AI system. Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60

 No
Assignment(Including Essay): A recorded or written assignment on AI ethics cases (1600 words or a 5-minute recording). Cases will be available in week 6. Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Not yet recorded

Name Role
Ms Mary Anne Culhane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Courtney Ford Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Thompson Kwarkye Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Barry Twomey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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