Studiegids

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Orientation AI

Vak
2021-2022

Admission requirements

Not applicable.

Description

Scientists, philosophers, and artists have long been fascinated by the idea of “thinking machines”. Over the past decades, computer technology has turned some of these fascinations into reality, to the point where it rapidly enters our daily lives. At the same time many fundamental questions surrounding artificial intelligence remain open. What does it take for a system to be called “intelligent”? And under what conditions can we say that a system “can think”, “has a mind”, or “is creative”? How does artificial intelligence relate to traditional philosophical questions about knowledge and reasoning? And do we ultimately benefit from AI, or is it a threat rather than a blessing? This course discusses such questions trough seven thematic lectures.

Course objectives

After seven thematic lectures students will:

  • be able to approach fundamental questions surrounding AI from various perspectives;

  • be able to read, interpret, and reflect upon scientific and philosophical literature regarding computer minds, the Turing Test, the Chinese Room Argument, utopian/dystopian views of AI, and computational creativity;

  • have a basic, fundamental understanding of the link between AI and traditional philosophical questions regarding epistemology and the evolution of intelligence;

  • have a basic, fundamental understanding of why AI is used and how it relates to (future) challenges in computer science and society.

Timetable

The most updated version of the timetables can be found on the students' website:

Mode of instruction

The course consists of seven 2-hour (on-line) lectures, each with a different theme/perspective related to the Philosophy of AI. Class attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to have studied the reading before each lecture, so that active participation in class can be expected. The timetable and reading material can be found on the course’s Brightspace page. A small reading assignment must be completed before the first class.

Assessment method

Homework in preparation of a debate we organise in class (40%) and a written exam (60%).

Reading list

Will be made available through Brightspace in advance of the first lecure.

Registration

Aanmelding voor vakken verloopt via uSis. Hiervoor is de uSis-code van het vak nodig, die te vinden zijn in de Studiegids. Meer info over het inschrijven voor vakken of tentamens is hier te vinden.

MyTimetable

In MyTimetable kun je alle vak- en opleidingsroosters vinden, waarmee jij je persoonlijke rooster kunt samenstellen. Onderwijsactiviteiten waarvoor je in uSis staat ingeschreven, worden automatisch in je rooster getoond. Daarnaast kun je My Timetable gemakkelijk koppelen aan een agenda-app op je telefoon en worden roosterwijzigingen automatisch in je agenda doorgevoerd; bovendien ontvang je desgewenst per e-mail een notificatie van de wijziging.

Vragen? Bekijk de video-instructie, lees de instructie of neem contact op met de ISSC helpdesk.

Brightspace

Inschrijving voor vakken verloopt via uSis. Wanneer je je hier inschrijft voor een bepaald vak krijg je automatisch ook toegang tot de omgeving van dit vak via Brightspace.

Voor meer informatie over Brightspace kun je op deze link klikken om de handleidingen van de universiteit te bekijken. Bij overige vragen of problemen kan contact opgenomen worden met de helpdesk van de universiteit Leiden.

Contact

Coordinating lecturers: Maarten Lamers and Max van Duijn
Onderwijscoordinator Riet Derogee