Foundations in Human-Centered AI from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Defining Key AI Concepts

Welcome! This module will build the foundations of our understanding of AI history, language, and current applications. We will also define many key terms that will recur throughout the lessons to help ground our discussions of AI concepts and tools.

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Examines the history of AI development, which provides context for current research and helps to understand the evolution of the field

Explores the concept of value-sensitive design, which is a vital framework for embedding human values in design practice

Offered by Northeastern University, which has a strong reputation for its research and programs in artificial intelligence

Focuses on designing AI to augment and enhance human capability, which is a core principle in the field of human-computer interaction

Reviews summary

Foundations of human-centered ai design

According to learners, this course offers a unique and essential perspective on artificial intelligence, focusing on how to design AI systems that augment human capabilities rather than replace them. Students praise the course for providing a strong foundational understanding of key AI concepts and their history, particularly highlighting the introduction to Value-Sensitive Design as a practical framework for embedding human values in technology. While many find the content highly relevant and insightful, a few reviewers noted that the course, being foundational, lacks deep technical detail and may feel a bit basic if you already have significant AI background. The course structure is generally well-received, providing a clear path through the material, though opinions on the engagement level of the historical modules varied among students.

History modules had mixed engagement.

"Found the history sections a bit dense compared to the more design-focused parts."

"The historical context was surprisingly interesting and relevant."

"While important for context, the history modules weren't as engaging as the later ones on design principles."

Good intro, but limited technical detail.

"As a 'foundations' course, it's great, but don't expect deep technical dives into AI algorithms."

"It's more conceptual and historical than practical AI development, which is fine, but good to know upfront."

"I was hoping for a little more on the implementation side of HCAI, but it's clearly focused on the principles."

"If you're already deep into AI history or ethics, some parts might feel like review."

Practical framework for ethical design.

"The module on Value-Sensitive Design was a major highlight for me. Very practical."

"Learning about VSD gave me concrete tools to think about ethics in my own work."

"Really appreciated the deep dive into how to actually implement values in design."

"This section alone made the course worthwhile for understanding responsible AI."

Excellent introduction to key HCAI concepts.

"Gives you a solid introduction to the core ideas behind Human-Centered AI."

"Perfect for getting a grip on the history and fundamental concepts before diving deeper."

"The first few modules did a great job of laying the groundwork and defining terms clearly."

"I feel like I have a much better understanding of where AI came from and why HCAI is important now."

Offers a unique perspective on AI design.

"This course provides such a refreshing and necessary perspective on AI; loved the emphasis on human augmentation."

"Unlike technical AI courses, this one really makes you think about the user and societal impact. Crucial learning."

"The focus on designing AI 'with' humans instead of 'for' or 'instead of' them is incredibly valuable."

"I found the human-centered approach to be a game-changer in how I think about AI applications."

"This is the future of AI development – understanding the human element is paramount."

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 Foundations in Human-Centered AI with these activities:

Review 'Human-Centered AI' by Ben Shneiderman

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Gain a strong understanding of the core principles of Human-Centered AI before starting the course.

View Human-Centered AI on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Human-Centered AI'.
Read the introductory chapters focusing on the definition and history of the field.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.

Create a Presentation on the History of AI

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Solidify your understanding of the history of AI by creating a presentation that highlights key milestones and figures.

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Research the history of AI development.
Identify key milestones and figures in AI history.
Create a presentation that summarizes the history of AI.
Practice your presentation and deliver it to an audience.

Participate in Peer Review of AI Designs

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Improve your AI design skills by providing and receiving feedback from your peers.

Browse courses on AI Design

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Form a study group with other students.
Share your AI designs with the group.
Provide constructive feedback on each other's designs.

Four other activities

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Review 'AI Ethics' by Mark Coeckelbergh

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Understand the ethical dimensions of AI development and its impact on society.

View Communicative AI: A Critical Introduction to... on Amazon

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Acquire a copy of 'AI Ethics'.
Read chapters related to bias, fairness, and accountability.
Reflect on the ethical challenges discussed in the book.

Follow Tutorials on AI Bias Detection

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Learn practical techniques for identifying and mitigating bias in AI systems.

Browse courses on AI Bias

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Find tutorials on AI bias detection using Python or R.
Follow the tutorials and implement the techniques on sample datasets.
Analyze the results and identify potential sources of bias.

Create a Blog Post on Value-Sensitive Design

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Deepen your understanding of value-sensitive design by explaining its principles and applications in a blog post.

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Research value-sensitive design principles.
Identify examples of AI systems that incorporate human values.
Write a blog post explaining the importance of value-sensitive design.
Share your blog post on social media.

Design a Human-Centered AI Application

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Apply the principles learned in the course to design a real-world AI application that benefits humans.

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Identify a problem that can be solved using AI.
Design an AI system that addresses the problem with a human-centered approach.
Create a prototype or mockup of the application.
Present your design and justify your human-centered approach.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations in Human-Centered AI will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

User Experience Researcher

A User Experience Researcher investigates how people interact with technology, and a course in Human-Centered AI is directly relevant since this field explicitly focuses on designing AI to augment human capabilities. This role requires understanding user needs and preferences through various research methods like interviews and usability testing; the course's exploration of value-sensitive design directly supports the creation of AI systems that align with user values. This makes this course particularly useful to a User Experience Researcher because it specifically frames AI design from a human perspective, ensuring they create systems which are not only functional but also intuitive and beneficial for users. Understanding the historical context of AI development and the reasons why human-centered approaches are important will allow UX researchers to create more effective and ethical systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

AI Ethicist

An AI Ethicist examines the moral and societal implications of artificial intelligence. This role is critically linked to Human-Centered AI, which this course explores, since one of its main aims is to design AI in a way that aligns with human values. An AI Ethicist evaluates AI systems for potential biases and ethical challenges, advocating for responsible development and deployment. This course, with its focus on human augmentation rather than replacement and discussions on value-sensitive design, prepares a prospective AI Ethicist to understand the core principles of ethical AI. The course’s grounding in the history of AI helps to contextualize current ethical challenges, making it a key asset.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Ethicist

Product Manager

A Product Manager guides the development and launch of technology products, and an understanding of Human-Centered AI is increasingly important as AI becomes a core component of many products. This role involves understanding market needs, defining product strategy, and working closely with engineering teams to ensure that products are not only technically feasible but also beneficial and user-friendly. The course’s exploration of designing AI to augment human capability and its examination of human-in-the-loop design concepts provide a Product Manager with a framework for identifying and developing AI solutions that address real human needs. This course helps provide a lens to design AI that is more than cutting edge but also responsible and well-received by users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer focuses on creating intuitive and engaging interfaces for technologies, which makes a strong understanding of Human-Centered AI extremely relevant. This role requires a deep understanding of user behavior and how people will interact with AI systems; the course’s human-centric perspective is directly relevant to this. The course’s focus on how to shape AI technology to reflect human values helps make this a very useful course. Interaction Designers frequently develop prototypes and conduct testing to refine user experiences, and this course will be very useful in ensuring that AI systems they design are both effective and user-friendly and help users in ways they actually need. Therefore, this course will be quite helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

AI Consultant

An AI Consultant advises organizations on how to effectively implement and utilize artificial intelligence, and a course focused on Human-Centered AI prepares you to take a very practical approach. In this role, understanding not just the technology but also the human impact is critical in leading to strategic recommendations, implementation and deployment of AI solutions. The material in this course related to history of AI development and the reasons why human-centered approaches matter will be very helpful in this. The course, highlighting the importance of designing AI to augment and enhance human capability, ensures that an AI Consultant is prepared to create AI solutions that are not only impactful but also ethical and responsible, which will be very important to the consultant's clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Consultant

Technology Strategist

A Technology Strategist develops long-term plans for the use of technology within an organization, with the growth of AI making human-centered design a critical factor in this role. This is because technology strategy involves understanding both the capabilities of emerging technologies, like AI, and their impact on human workflows. This course's teachings on designing AI to enhance, rather than replace, human capability allows a Technology Strategist to advocate for a responsible approach to artificial intelligence. This course will help a Technology Strategist understand how to integrate AI in a way that is both beneficial and enhances human productivity; this will be critical in setting a technology strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Strategist

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist analyzes large datasets to derive insights and create predictive models, and while this role is not explicitly about human-computer interaction, understanding the ethical and human-centered implications of AI is increasingly valuable. This course may be useful, as it introduces concepts and practices that help Data Scientists to understand the importance of building AI systems that are aligned with human values. The course’s emphasis on designing AI with a human-centric perspective will help them build a more holistic approach. While this course may not provide a Data Scientist with technical skills, it helps prepare them to work in ethical and responsible AI development. This understanding will be increasingly important for Data Scientists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

UX Designer

A UX Designer creates user-centered designs for digital products and services, and a course in Human-Centered AI can directly influence how they design AI interfaces. In this role, developing experiences that are intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable for users requires a deep understanding of human behavior and needs. This course's focus on human-centered approaches to AI helps a UX Designer create AI-driven features that are not only functional, but also aligned with human goals. The course's focus on placing humans “in the loop” is key to this aim. While this course is more theoretical than practical for a UX Designer, it provides a vital perspective to the future of human-computer interfaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

AI Project Manager

An AI Project Manager oversees the planning and execution of artificial intelligence projects, meaning that developing an understanding of Human-Centered AI will be useful to them. This role involves coordinating between technical teams and business stakeholders to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and aligned with the organization's goals. While this course may not specifically cover project management skills, it helps prepare an AI Project Manager to think about the larger implications of AI systems, which results in better management of goals and objectives. This course could be especially beneficial to better manage human concerns related to AI, making it useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Project Manager

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer develops and maintains software systems, and while they may not directly work in Human-Centered AI, understanding the principles of AI design can be beneficial to their work. This course may be useful, as it introduces the idea of human-centered AI, and the history of its development. The course material about integrating human values into design can help any Software Engineer create more user-friendly and responsible technology. While this course is not specifically technical, it can help a Software Engineer understand a human-focused approach to their work. Understanding that AI is not just technical but also human will be very helpful.

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AI Educator

An AI Educator teaches others about artificial intelligence, including its concepts, applications, and implications. This course may be useful, since Human-Centered AI is an important aspect of AI education. This role requires not only a strong understanding of the technology itself, but also the ability to communicate its applications in a clear and understandable way. The course’s focus on defining key concepts and history of AI development could be useful to an Educator when explaining to others. While this course does not focus specifically on teaching, the human-centered approach it develops makes it an asset to any AI Educator.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches and develops public policies related to technology, and a course in human-centered AI may be useful because it is an important consideration when crafting policy. This role involves understanding the potential impacts of technology on society and the course’s focus on human-centric approaches may be helpful. A Policy Analyst often works with many stakeholders and the course will help them consider different ways to approach policy. The course materials will provide a helpful historical context to AI development, though it may be more applicable to those who focus on tech policy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for technology products and services. While this role does not require a deep technical expertise in Human-Centered AI, understanding the principles behind it can inform the style and content of documentation. This course may be useful to a Technical Writer in understanding the ways in which people interact with AI. The course material would provide some context of the user and their relationship to AI, as well as key terms and concepts. This course may help a Technical Writer develop a human-centered approach to documentation.

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Market Research Analyst

A Market Research Analyst analyzes market trends and consumer behavior to inform business decisions, and while this role does not directly focus on AI development, the course may be useful in some capacity as AI becomes an increasingly larger part of the marketplace. The course material on the history of AI and the value-sensitive design approach may help Market Research Analysts develop a better understanding of consumer preferences and their needs. This course emphasizes human needs in AI development which may assist a Market Research Analyst in understanding market trends and preferences when it comes to AI technology. This may be useful, but is likely not a primary consideration for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst uses data to identify business problems and propose solutions, and although these problems may not directly involve AI, this course may be useful in some scenarios. While this role primarily focuses on operational efficiency and business processes, the course could be a starting point to understand the integration of AI solutions, especially if it involves a human component. The course’s focus on human-centered approaches to AI may help a Business Analyst when thinking more holistically about processes. While this course is not directly related, it may be useful in specialized cases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Foundations in Human-Centered AI.

Human-Centered AI

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of Human-Centered AI. It explores the importance of designing AI systems that prioritize human needs and values. Reading this book will give you a strong foundation for understanding the core concepts of the course and applying them to real-world problems. It is often used as a textbook in HCI and AI courses.

Human-Centered AI

Paperback

Communicative AI

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Delves into the ethical considerations surrounding the development and deployment of AI. It covers topics such as bias, fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI systems. Reading this book will help you critically evaluate the ethical implications of Human-Centered AI and design systems that align with human values. It valuable resource for understanding the societal impact of AI.

Communicative AI: A Critical Introduction to Large...

Hardcover

$$$