Tommy Sowers

To apply ethics in practice, we must first understand the complicated ecosystem of stakeholders participating in this age of AI. This course explores that ecosystem — the companies building technology, the organizations adopting it, the funders demanding it, the regulators seeking to shape it, the communicators interpreting it, and the citizens who use it and are affected by the choices industries and governments make.

 

While the topic of the course is artificial intelligence, the same methodology applies to understanding and aligning stakeholders across a broad set of emerging technologies. Students will examine how these dynamics adapt across multiple applied domains, including health care, education, the workforce, infrastructure, and government operations. By combining ethical reasoning, strategic insight into the complicated landscape of stakeholders, and reflection on where students see value alignment, the course prepares students to navigate and participate in the evolving relationship between technology, organizations, and society.

 

This applied course immerses students in the rapid design and prototyping of AI-enabled technologies addressing real-world challenges in defense, security, and resilience. Teams work with government and industry partners to define mission-critical problems, build prototype systems, and iterate based on stakeholder feedback. Emphasis is placed on rapid experimentation, human-centered design, and operational value delivery in complex environments.

 

Open to: Graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Prerequisites: Coursework or experience in AI, data science, systems engineering, or design innovation recommended.