Why are most voice assistants female? How should self-driving cars decide who deserves moral priority in an accident?

We often push the bounds of technological advancement without considering the ethical implications and consequences of our actions. From the rise of performative activism to internet sovereignty and the various ethical issues surrounding Zoom proctoring and the COVID crisis, this DeCal explores the above questions and a variety of other current topics spanning social media, bioethics, education, AI, data science, and the environment. We will analyze how technology has evolved to become intertwined with our society as well as the morals that we harbor.

This is a 1-unit P/NP class that meets online once per week for 12 weeks on Fridays 6 - 7:30 PM PST. Each class will be 1 hour and 20 minutes: 20 minutes for student-led discussion, 30 minutes for lecture, and 30 minutes for discussion and in class activities / assignments.

Weekly assignments will only include readings and articles, and a passing grade is dependent on effort of the following:
Attendance & participation in discussions - 40%
Classwork / Assignments - 30%
Graded on completion and effort
Midterm and Final - 30%
Midterm Assignment - 10%
Final Project- 20%

There are no papers and exams. The midterm assignment will be to engage in a conversation about ethics with another person. For the final project, students will have the choice between a research presentation, design assignment, or a writeup of personal ethics with respect to a piece of technology.

If you have more questions, feel free to contact tsi.decal@gmail.com :)

Enrollment is first come, first served. Please fill out this interest form to receive the class number: https://forms.gle/ziTVsos3QGWePrMG6