uwloo

STV 208Artificial Intelligence and Society: Impact, Ethics, and Equity

Units
0.50
Subject
Society, Technology and Values

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to ethical and social concerns relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI). These concerns include historical determinism, governance, utopianism, biopower, human rights, robo-ethics, justice, accountability, and fairness. An overview will be provided on these issues as they arise in areas like art, commerce, education, finance, journalism, law, health care, transportation, warfare, and work.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

None listed.

Notes

  • This course is not technical; no background in AI is necessary or assumed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

57% liked it67% easy42% useful

From 7 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Simply a long class, the content is more like technology and society. No exam but two heavily weighted essays. Sometimes feedback seems not completely accurate. If you think this is a technical course, it is not very AI. Mostly and anthro or english type class. Still explores current issues and a wide range of technological advancements.

    Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

One post or comment in 1 thread mentions STV 208, September 2024 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar