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AI, Ethics and the Law (LAWS10009)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies such as expert systems, machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and robotics. and machine vision are affecting almost every aspect of modern society. This means that new techniques in computing are changing the way in which decisions are made and our interactions with machines. These developments have many beneficial consequences. The varied uses of AI also raise a host of concerns, including about their impact on employment, health and safety, interpersonal relationships, human rights, discrimination, and human autonomy. Developing ethical technical and legal responses to these new technologies requires cross disciplinary expertise, including from the humanities, science, design, economics, computing, engineering and law. Drawing on research expertise and industry perspectives his subject uses these kinds of perspectives to investigate AI ethics and the law.
These issues will be explored through the use of case studies. These will include considering:
- surveillance and facial recognition technologies
- AI in curating news and fake news
- algorithmic decision-making by governments, courts, and other public institutions
- AI personal assistants
- autonomous vehicles
- med-tech and legal-tech
- AI in environmental protection
- service and care robots
- autonomous weapons and military technology.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed the subject should have:
- Acquired an understanding of the contribution from different fields, including science and the humanities, into the policy and legal questions raised by AI.
- Analysed and applied the legal responses to AI in a range of current contexts.
- Obtained a general knowledge of the legal issues raised by AI.
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding AI to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Have developed skills to be an engaged participant in debate regarding emerging and contemporary issues in the field of AI.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed skills in:
- Reading inter-disciplinary material in preparation for class;
- Analysing conceptual and practical human rights problems;
- Using legal norms as the basis for advocacy;
- Writing clearly for assignments; and
- Verbal communication through group discussions in tutorials.
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Online Quiz (x4)
| Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
Essay Plan
| Late in the teaching period | 20% |
Research essay
| End of semester | 60% |
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Jeannie Paterson Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 1 hour prerecorded lecture, 1 hour synchronous seminars (weeks 3-10), and 1 hour on-campus or online tutorial (starting week 2). Total time commitment 150 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Specialist materials may be made available via the LMS.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 19 April 2024