Ethics in AI and Data Science from edX

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often touted as a key technology spurring the Fourth Industrial Revolution in which the physical, digital and biological worlds are being fused together in a way that will have a tremendous impact on our global culture and economy. The unprecedented amount of data we create every day fuels this new paradigm of AI. This new world of opportunities also brings with it concerns about security, user privacy, data misuse, surveillance, data ownership, and more. People distrust the use of artificial intelligence and institutions that rely on it without building accountability and transparency. It is the responsibility of business and technology leaders and data scientists to change that: add transparency, develop standards and share best practices to drive AI adoption with trust.

Business leaders and data professionals today need AI frameworks and methods to achieve optimal results while also being good technology and business stewards. Though companies and institutions are adopting AI principles and the language of ethics, trust and responsibility has entered emerging technologies, AI and data science, there is still confusion about when and why it’s needed. This course introduces some of the principles and frameworks that puts ethics and responsibility into practice in the data analytics profession, and offers practical approaches to technical, business and leadership dilemmas and challenges posed by work in AI and Data Science.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Discuss the ethical challenges of ai and data science.
Understand the impacts of ai and data science.
Explore both the business and societal dynamics at work in an ai world.

Understand how to begin setting up a framework for ai principles.
Discuss practical strategy and challenges of building an ai framework.
Learn the tools to put ethics and responsibility into practice at your organization or company.

Discuss the ethical challenges of ai and data science.
Understand the impacts of ai and data science.
Explore both the business and societal dynamics at work in an ai world.
Understand how to begin setting up a framework for ai principles.
Discuss practical strategy and challenges of building an ai framework.
Learn the tools to put ethics and responsibility into practice at your organization or company.

Syllabus

Welcome!

Chapter 1. The State of Ethics, Trust & Responsibility with AI and Data Science

Chapter 2. What Do We Mean by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science and Why It Matters

Chapter 3. Strategies (& Challenges) of Putting Ethics & Responsibility into Practice

Final Exam (Verified track only)

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces ethical frameworks for practicing data analytics

Designed for business leaders and professionals

Taught by Alka Roy, an expert in ethics and AI

Covers the impacts of AI and Data Science on business and society

Provides practical guidance for implementing AI ethics and addressing challenges

Requires prior knowledge of AI and Data Science concepts

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ethics in AI and Data Science with these activities:

Review prerequisite knowledge of AI concepts

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Refresh your knowledge of basic AI concepts to ensure a strong foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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Review key definitions and concepts in AI
Explore different types of AI algorithms
Understand the role of data in AI

Explore online resources on AI ethics

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Exposes you to a wider range of perspectives and insights on AI ethics from industry experts.

Browse courses on AI Ethics

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Identify reputable websites, articles, and videos on AI ethics.
Take notes and summarize key findings.
Share your learnings with peers or instructors.

Read 'Ethics and Artificial Intelligence' by Mark Coeckelbergh

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Expand your understanding of AI ethics by reading a foundational book that explores the ethical implications of AI development and use.

View Digital Technologies, Temporality, and the... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly and take notes
Identify key ethical concepts and arguments
Consider the implications for AI policy and practice

Six other activities

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Complete ethical dilemma quizzes

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Tests your understanding of ethical considerations in AI and helps you develop critical decision-making skills.

Browse courses on AI Ethics

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Find online quizzes or practice exercises on AI ethics.
Attempt the quizzes and review your answers carefully.

Explore ethical frameworks in AI

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Supplement your understanding of AI ethics by following guided tutorials on best practices and frameworks.

Browse courses on Ethics in AI

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Identify common ethical challenges in AI
Explore existing ethical frameworks for AI
Learn about AI auditing and evaluation techniques

Develop a case study on AI ethics

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Allows you to apply the ethical principles discussed in the course to a practical scenario, fostering critical thinking and decision-making.

Browse courses on AI Ethics

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Select a real-world scenario involving AI and ethical dilemmas.
Research relevant ethical guidelines and principles.
Analyze the case study and identify key ethical considerations.

Design an AI framework for your organization

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Provides practical experience in designing and implementing an AI framework that aligns with ethical principles.

Browse courses on AI Implementation

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Define the scope and objectives of your AI framework.
Research best practices and industry standards for ethical AI.
Develop a prototype or mock-up of your framework.

Develop an AI ethics policy for a hypothetical project

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Apply your understanding of AI ethics by drafting a policy that addresses ethical considerations in AI development and deployment.

Browse courses on AI Governance

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Identify potential ethical risks and impacts of the project
Develop guiding principles for ethical AI development
Create a policy that outlines specific ethical requirements and guidelines
Review and refine the policy based on feedback from stakeholders

Write a blog post or article on a specific AI ethics issue

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Deepen your understanding of AI ethics by researching and writing about a specific issue.

Browse courses on AI Ethics

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Choose a specific AI ethics issue to focus on
Research the topic thoroughly and gather insights
Develop a clear and concise argument or perspective
Write and edit the blog post or article

Career center

Learners who complete Ethics in AI and Data Science will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They are responsible for coordinating the activities of project teams and ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to specifications. This course may be useful for Project Managers who work or plan to work in the field of AI or Data Science. Ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important in the tech industry, and this course can help you develop your ethical decision-making skills.

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Software Developer

Software Developers translate complex ideas into computer code. These professionals combine programming languages and software applications to design, deploy, and maintain new software systems. This course may be useful for Software Developers who work or plan to work in the field of AI or Data Science. Ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important in the tech industry, and this course can help you to develop your ethical decision-making skills.

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AI Engineer

AI Engineers design, develop, and deploy AI systems. They use a variety of machine learning and deep learning techniques to build systems that can learn from data and make predictions. This course may be useful for AI Engineers as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in the field of AI and Data Science.

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Chief Data Officer

Chief Data Officers are responsible for the overall management of an organization's data. They develop and implement strategies for data collection, storage, analysis, and use. This course may be useful for Chief Data Officers who work or plan to work in the field of AI or Data Science. Ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important in the tech industry, and this course can help you develop your ethical decision-making skills.

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Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers are responsible for developing and deploying machine learning models. They use a variety of statistical and computational techniques to build models that can learn from data and make predictions. This course may be useful for Machine Learning Engineers as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in the field of AI and Data Science.

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Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts identify, assess, and manage risks to an organization. They use a variety of risk assessment techniques to identify and quantify risks and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. This course may be useful for Risk Analysts who work on issues related to AI or Data Science, as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in these fields.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products and services. They work with a variety of stakeholders to define product requirements, set priorities, and track progress. This course may be useful for Product Managers who work or plan to work in the field of AI or Data Science. Ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important in the tech industry, and this course can help you develop your ethical decision-making skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, process, and analyze data to support decision-making. They use a variety of statistical and data visualization techniques to identify trends and patterns in data. This course may be useful for Data Analysts as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in the field of Data Science and AI.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues to make recommendations for policy changes. They use a variety of research methods to collect and analyze data on policy issues. This course may be useful for Policy Analysts who work on issues related to AI or Data Science, as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in these fields.

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Compliance Analyst

Compliance Analysts ensure that an organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations. They review company policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with legal requirements and conduct risk assessments to identify potential areas of noncompliance. This course may be useful for Compliance Analysts who work on issues related to AI or Data Science, as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in these fields.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to improve their performance. They use data analysis techniques to identify opportunities for improvement and develop recommendations for change. This course may be useful for Business Analysts as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in the field of AI and Data Science.

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Data Governance Manager

Data Governance Managers are responsible for developing and implementing data governance policies and procedures. They ensure that an organization's data is managed in a consistent and ethical manner. This course may be useful for Data Governance Managers as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in the field of AI and Data Science.

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Data Engineer

Data Engineers are responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure that supports data science projects. They design, build, and manage data pipelines that transform raw data into formats that can be used for analysis. This course may be useful for Data Engineers as it will introduce you to the ethical challenges that are present in the field of Data Science and AI.

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IT Manager

IT Managers plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of an organization's information technology department. They are responsible for the development and implementation of IT systems and policies. This course may be useful for IT Managers as it will help you develop your understanding of the ethical challenges that are present in the field of AI and Data Science.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists take data and turn it into actionable insights that drive value for an organization. Through the application of statistical analysis and machine learning, Data Scientists derive meaningful information from data. This course in Ethics in AI and Data Science may be useful for helping you advance in this field, as it will help you better understand the ethical challenges that you may face in your daily work.

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