2 Looking around us
In this section, let’s step into the present, to examine the current landscape of AI. To start this off, the next activity covers some core AI technology that you are very likely to have already encountered, perhaps quite frequently. There will be further mention of many of these over the rest of the course.
Activity 3
The following is a list of technologies that have had some prominence in AI over the last three decades. Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive.
Try to match the discipline to each definition; if you are unsure of any of the disciplines, use the internet to search for their definition. You may also find the Glossary in Week 2 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] helpful.
While the above activity provides you with an opportunity to consider briefly some modern AI technology, this course focuses on the risks and benefits of such technology, rather than the technical details of AI. The following series of activities provide an overview of some recent examples of where a lack of appropriate consideration of the risks has led to harmful consequences in how AI ends up being used, in particular emphasising the possible consequences to some of the more marginalised members of society.