Course Details

Explore the recent history of the dramatic advances in artificial intelligence science and robot technology and their impacts on our culture and lives. Research the extent that robots and computers have freed whole swaths of jobs and occupations from the necessity of human involvement. Attempt to understand the current reach of “machine thought” or A.I., and try to make realistic predictions of where this science/technology is likely to lead. Finally, we will confront the question of whether we are witnessing the beginning of the end of the central role of humans in the future of civilization: That is, while we will (hopefully) be around to experience the future, we may not necessarily be in control.

The course will involve wide ranging readings on the impact of automation/robots in our economy, and the effects, good and bad, on our economy. We will explore the question of whether machine thought will advance to the critical point of machines being able to design and build the next generation of “machine thinkers”. Most importantly, we need to address the question of whether there is anything about being a human that ultimately a (very advanced) machine cannot do much better.

The goal to explore the vast resources of the internet, and the ideas presented in our entertainment media and contrast and compare these results with academic research on the same subjects. Is the hype real, or is it simply a product of our culture’s current obsession with what is trending?

This is a course for students who have always been fascinated with the rapid advance in technology, and find themselves wondering if the ever increasing pace of technological advancement is necessarily always a good thing.