B0066 - SOCIETÀ, ALGORITMI E TRANSIZIONE DIGITALE

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the knowledge and tools to understand the social implications of the digital transition. At the end of the course the students will know the main social, political, and communicative aspects related to the development and use of artificial intelligence systems capable of autonomous learning and their impact on the relationship between citizens and institutions. They will be able to analyze the main social issues posed by digital capitalism and its consequences on specific social systems.

Course contents

Recent algorithmic techniques based on machine learning and the use of large amounts of contextual, dynamic, and heterogeneous data (big data) are having an increasingly pervasive impact on several areas of contemporary society. The course analyzes different aspects of the ongoing transformations: the characteristics of data, the evolution of machine learning, the interpretation of artificial intelligence, the opacity of deep learning algorithms and related problems, the predictive use of algorithms, the governance of algorithms, the problems of responsible and fair use.

 

Readings/Bibliography

A detailed syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

The course will be drastically discussion-oriented. Attending students can only miss two classes.

Each class will be structured in an approximately 30-minute presentation and a general discussion involving all participants. In the first two weeks of the course the introductory presentation will be given by the teacher, in the following weeks by the participating students - according to a detailed schedule that will be agreed upon after the first meetings.

Participants are expected to read the materials for each meeting in advance and actively contribute to the discussion.

Assessment methods

For attending students:
Participants must prepare two questions for each meeting, which will be presented and discussed during class. Each participant must give the introductory presentation at one of the meetings, presenting the assigned texts, and then coordinate the discussion.

After each meeting, participants are expected to hand in a short note (some bullet points) outlining their understanding of the meeting's discussion with reference to the issues they find most relevant.

At the end of the course, attending students are required to submit a short paper (1,500 words) in which they comment on and critically discuss one of the topics covered during the meetings.

Overall assessment:
Participation in the discussion and notes: 35%
In-class presentation: 35%
Final paper: 30%

For non-attending students:
Non-attending students must submit a 5,000-word paper on one of the topics of the course, after agreeing it with the teacher. The paper will be discussed in an oral meeting with reference to the overall content of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Esposito