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Free course

An introduction to artificial intelligence

Free statement of participation on completion
An introduction to artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents great opportunity, but also significant disruption for modern societies and cultures. This free online short course investigates the historical, ethical and social issues surrounding this technology. It is aimed at people interested in understanding where this technology has come from, the kinds of opportunities it brings to modern and future societies, but also the risks it presents, and what steps we might take to avoid such risks.

This course has been developed from LG003 - An introduction to artificial intelligences. The Open University has launched a dedicated learning centre called The Open Centre for Languages and Cultures. OpenLearn is supporting this project and is providing extracted units of all courses on The Open Centre in our dedicated Language and cultures hub.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • describe the historical, social, political and economic issues in AI
  • understand the benefits and risks of AI technology
  • express some ideas about the ethical challenges with building AI technology
  • formulate possible ways of responding to the risks and opportunities which AI represents.

First Published: 25/05/2022

Updated: 25/05/2022

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