Ethics in AI Design from edX

AI systems have a great potential to improve society, across a wide range of applications. The challenge is to do so responsibly. AI systems can lead to discrimination, loss of human control and a lack of explainability, to name a few ethical dilemmas they may present. Because of the great impact that AI and Machine Learning has (e.g. ChatGPT by OpenAI, or the use of ML for medical diagnoses), we need to ensure that we design and use them in a way that meets ethical standards.

To do this requires a pro-active attitude towards ethics, for which we use the Delft Design for Values methodology. This identifies ethical values and has tools to translate them into concrete design requirements, which can then be tested. For this course, the focus is on aligning programming and design decisions with ethical values.

This course is for professionals developing AI systems, or for managers overseeing AI developments. The Design for Values methodology offers guidance on how to tackle the wide range of ethical challenges in the design process of AI systems. You will learn about bias, transparency, control, accountability, trust, and more. There will be a focus on the connection between the technological tools available and the ethical values. Most of all, you will practice how to make AI Ethics actionable and applicable for a wide range of systems and use cases.

To learn how to put ethics into practice we will use a running example from AI in healthcare. You will be challenged to think about how best to design an AI system in this context, while taking important ethical values into account. We will also work with other use cases from various sectors, such as government or industry, to see how ethical values and their consequences change from situation to situation.

This course has been designed by TU Delft’s experts on Digital Ethics, who hold a world-leading position in the operationalization of ethics in digital technology. They have played a central role in setting the EU directives on ethics, as well as the WHO Guidelines on AI Ethics in healthcare, and will now help you to put ethics into practice.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Identify and explain possible ethical issues in ai design and development
Analyze what ethical issues could arise in ai applications
Determine steps to take for more responsible use of ai applications

Apply the steps involved in responsible ai design
After this course you’ll be able to:

Identify and explain possible ethical issues in ai design and development
Analyze what ethical issues could arise in ai applications
Determine steps to take for more responsible use of ai applications
Apply the steps involved in responsible ai design
After this course you’ll be able to:

Syllabus

Week 1

Introduction to the Ethical challenges with AI. A first overview of how ethics interacts with the design and use of AI systems.

Overview of how we will tackle these challenges during the course: introduction of the Design for Values methodology and its application to AI design.

We look into identifying values of different stakeholders and on the methods to then operationalize these, applied to our central case study in the healthcare domain.

Week 2

Trustworthiness of AI systems, accuracy and explainability.

When is an AI system trustworthy, and how does this interact with requirements for accuracy and explainability? Should systems always be explainable? What do we focus on with respect to accuracy and reliability/robustness of systems?

In addition, we briefly look into what is technically available. How explainable are these systems? What tools are available to improve the explainability of AI systems, and when do we use them?

Week 3

Bias in data and algorithmic fairness.

We will discuss both philosophical conceptions of fairness and bias as well as the connection to concrete metrics and tools that can be used to monitor and correct for biases.

Investigate which (statistical) biases are problematic and what appropriate steps are to tackle them.

Week 4

Accountability and human oversight.

Who is responsible when mistakes are made with AI systems? What organisational/socio-technical design is needed to ensure responsible use of AI?

Human oversight is discussed and the notion of meaningful human control is introduced. We then look at how oversight can be implemented in different ways, both technically (logs, audits, etc) and in the organisation (the role we give to an AI system).

Week 5

Value conflicts: what to do when different ethical values are difficult to realise at the same time?

Final assignment: for a new case, conduct the translation of ethical values into design requirements yourself.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores ethical challenges in AI design and development, which is a rapidly growing field

Provides practical steps for developing more responsible AI applications, which can help learners avoid ethical pitfalls

Focuses on aligning programming and design decisions with ethical values, which is essential for creating trustworthy and responsible AI systems

Uses a healthcare case study to illustrate the challenges of responsible AI design, which provides learners with a practical and relatable example

Covers a range of ethical issues, including bias, transparency, accountability, and trust, which gives learners a comprehensive understanding of the ethical implications of AI

Taught by experts from TU Delft, who are world leaders in the operationalization of ethics in digital technology, which ensures the course is informed by the latest research and best practices

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 Design with these activities:

Review AI Ethics principles

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Review the foundational principles of AI Ethics to enhance your understanding and prepare for the course content.

Browse courses on AI Ethics

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Define key concepts such as fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI.
Examine real-world examples of ethical challenges in AI applications.
Discuss the potential societal implications of AI and its ethical use.

Explore online resources on AI Ethics

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Expand your knowledge of AI Ethics by exploring online resources, such as tutorials, articles, and videos, to gain additional insights and perspectives.

Browse courses on AI and Society

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Identify reputable websites and platforms that provide reliable information on AI Ethics.
Review tutorials, articles, and videos to enhance your understanding of key concepts.
Take notes and summarize the information to reinforce your learning.

Practice identifying ethical issues in AI case studies

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Engage in practice exercises to hone your ability to identify and analyze ethical issues in real-world AI scenarios.

Browse courses on AI and Society

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Analyze case studies to pinpoint potential ethical concerns.
Evaluate different perspectives and stakeholders involved in ethical decision-making.
Apply ethical frameworks to propose solutions for identified issues.

Five other activities

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Participate in peer discussions on AI Ethics

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Engage with peers in discussions to exchange perspectives, challenge ideas, and expand your understanding of AI Ethics.

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Prepare for discussions by reviewing course materials and conducting additional research.
Actively participate in discussions, sharing your insights and listening to others.
Reflect on the discussions and consider how they broaden your understanding.

Design an AI system with ethical considerations

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Develop a proposal for an AI system that incorporates ethical considerations, demonstrating your understanding of ethical principles and their practical implementation.

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Identify the specific ethical values and principles relevant to the AI system.
Translate these values into concrete design requirements.
Design the system's architecture and functionality to align with the ethical requirements.
Evaluate the design's effectiveness in addressing the ethical considerations.

Write a short essay on the impact of AI Ethics on society

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Reflect on the societal implications of AI Ethics by writing an essay that explores the potential benefits and challenges of ensuring responsible AI development.

Browse courses on AI and Society

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Research the impact of AI on various aspects of society, such as employment, privacy, and decision-making.
Analyze the ethical implications of these impacts and propose solutions or recommendations.
Write a well-structured essay that presents your findings and insights.

Volunteer with organizations focused on AI Ethics

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the field of AI Ethics by volunteering with organizations dedicated to promoting ethical AI development.

Browse courses on AI and Society

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Identify organizations working in the area of AI Ethics.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Participate in projects, events, or initiatives that align with your interests and skills.

Contribute to open-source projects related to AI Ethics

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Make a tangible contribution to the field of AI Ethics by participating in open-source projects that aim to develop tools, frameworks, or resources for responsible AI development.

Browse courses on AI and Society

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Identify open-source projects working on AI Ethics-related issues.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
Reach out to the project maintainers and express your interest in contributing.
Make code contributions, write documentation, or participate in discussions.

Career center

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

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers build, deploy, and maintain machine learning models. They collaborate with data scientists to develop and implement machine learning algorithms. This course can help build a foundation in the ethical implications and concerns surrounding the field of machine learning engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

AI Developer

An AI Developer is a programmer who designs and creates artificial intelligence systems. They work with data scientists and machine learning engineers to design and implement AI solutions. Because an AI developer is so involved with the programming aspect of AI design, this course may be useful for someone hoping to enter this career field.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Developer

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts design and implement mathematical and statistical models and algorithms to analyze data and make investment decisions. This course can help build a foundation in the ethical implications and concerns surrounding the use of AI in quantitative analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists collect, clean, analyze, and interpret data to provide insights and help businesses and organizations make data-driven decisions. They work with large datasets and use statistical and machine learning techniques such as those learned in this course to extract useful information and create models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to provide insights and help businesses and organizations make data-driven decisions. This course may be helpful for a Data Analyst as they work with large datasets and use statistical and machine learning techniques to extract useful information and create models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts design and implement security measures to protect computer networks and systems. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Robotics Engineer

Robotics Engineers design, build, and maintain robots. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Software Developer

Software Developers take part in functional design, development, implementation and testing of both high-level and low-level software systems. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Software Architect

Software Architects design and develop the overall architecture of software systems. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, integrate, and manage complex systems. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

IT Manager

IT Managers plan, organize, and direct the activities of an organization's IT department. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Computer Vision Engineer

Computer Vision Engineers design and develop computer vision systems. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Vision Engineer

Blockchain Developer

Blockchain Developers design, develop, and implement blockchain applications. Knowledge of how to ethically implement artificial intelligence in design is becoming more and more valuable. Taking this course can help build a foundation that will make you a more competitive candidate in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Developer

User Experience Designer

A User Experience Designer researches, designs, and evaluates interaction between users and products. Understanding how to use AI ethically is becoming more and more important in the field of User Experience Design. This course may be useful for someone hoping to enter this career field.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer