Responsible AI for non-AI/non-ICT students

Description

Every student needs to understand what AI is, how it works, what the risks of AI are and what rules are in place to guide the responsible use of AI to be able to avoid and detect bias, unexpected mistakes and fraud. Learn all about applying the fundamentals of the responsible use of AI for e.g. data analysis, decision making and creative processes.

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has had a large impact on education and research: AI, when used responsibly, can support data analysis, decision making and creative processes, but AI can also lead to problems such as bias, unexpected mistakes and fraud.

It is therefore important for any student to understand what AI is, how it works, what the risks of AI are and what rules are in place to guide the responsible use of AI. The AI research group of the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht has therefore created a one-week programme intended to teach the fundamentals of the responsible use of AI. The programme includes both learning to use AI, the ethical and legal implications. This programme was designed to be interesting for people (who will be) working with AI (that means: bachelor students from other fields than ICT or AI) up to experienced graduate students that want to discuss the latest developments with students from other fields. 

The programme is designed to be practical and interactive, and includes the following:

• A demonstration of using AI and machine learning on datasets, using open datasets and python notebooks. If you do not have coding experience, you will learn some of the basics and how to use code examples and libraries.
• Fundamentals of large language models, use cases for language models and how to use them using prompt engineering.
• The ethics of AI, including how AI impacts fundamental rights and how the AI Act tries to regulate the use of AI. Several interesting responsible AI cases will be discussed in small groups
• Examples of the use of AI, machine learning or data science in research. Participants that are doing research at MSc or PhD level are invited to present their own work in a ‘conference track’

The course consists of a combination of lectures, practical sessions using the Python programming language, and group discussions.

Lecturers

Sieuwert van Otterloo, PhD
Sietske Tacoma, PhD
Hubert Fonteijn, PhD

Target audience

Bachelor and Master students from all backgrounds are welcome, including but not limited to engineering, business, law, philosophy and arts students. Some computer or programming experience is helpful but not required. This summerschool is designed for a mixed audience; MSc and PhD students are also welcome as are fresh alumni. The course includes practical sessions where students will use Python and Jupyter Notebook to complete assignments.

Please note that students should bring their own laptop computer.

A good command of English is absolutely necessary. Given the interactive nature of teaching, students must have the capabilities to communicate (understand and speak) in English well!

Aim of the course

The aim of the course is to give students with a non-AI or non-ICT background an understanding of Artificial Intelligence, recent developments, risks and how to use it responsibly. 

Study load

Fifty hours

Please note: You must attend all learning activities (e.g. workshops, fieldwork) to be able to receive the Certificate of Participation and/or the credits for this course, unless absence is officially approved by the teachers and the coordinator of the Utrecht Summer School. You will be expected to be present until the final day of the course has ended. Please keep this in mind when booking your return flight. You can find your schedule in the Day to Day overview of your course on the course page.

Tags

• AI
• machine learning
• neural networks
• ethics of AI
• Python
• responsible use of AI