Understanding AI: Its Power, Its Benefits & Its Risks

This two-day online class is intended for people with no technical background in computer math or science. Using PowerPoint slides and videos, the presentation will be educational and entertaining for students with an interest in, but limited knowledge of, artificial intelligence and how it may impact our lives. The first day will help you understand artificial intelligence, its history, the various kinds of AI technologies, and the incredible achievements AI has made. It will also focus on the explosive growth in recent years of the hottest topic in AI: Generative AI - the ability of AI to generate new text, art, videos and music. The second day will focus on some of the important and controversial issues raised by these developments: the potential impact on how we work and employment generally, on health care and on education. There will be ample time for comments and questions from students.