AI Ethics and Society MSc

Gain a rare set of skills to address the big challenges in the responsible and ethical use of AI. This course breaks new ground in training the experts of the future.

AI is transforming the world around us. From how doctors make decisions, to how housing is allocated or how police and governments act; the impact of artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction. It’s becoming integral in our everyday lives.

But how can we make sure AI serves humanity without destabilising our society as we know it?

This Masters degree will provide you with trailblazing tools in ethical AI to become a holistic and strategic expert on AI’s role in society. The course is ideal for those with a non-technical background, whilst also offering a rare combination of complementary skills for those with technical experience.

Developed and taught by Leeds Institute for Societal Futures, you'll focus on real-world scenarios, working collaboratively across disciplines and sectors to find ethical and responsible solutions to the challenges of AI.

You’ll engage with the big questions around the hopes and harms of AI in society, such as:

* Who is responsible for the harms an AI causes: the developer, the deployer, the user, or no one?

* Should we ever be concerned about AI consciousness or the welfare of AI agents?

* What is the future of human creativity and authorship in a world of AI agents that are able to create art and produce academic research?

* Which human tasks should never be handed to a machine, even when it does them well?

* Given the uneven global distribution of environmental costs of AI usage, is pushing toward widespread usage justified?

* Whose labour, whose data and whose knowledge are built into the systems the rest of us use for free?

* Who decides how AI is governed, and can any rulebook keep up with systems that now act on their own?

* What happens to Democracy and the concept of truth itself, when AI both creates information, and filters what information we are exposed to?

* Can an AI be a therapist, a friend, or a way of grieving someone you've lost, and what changes about us if it can?

Once you graduate, you'll be equipped with a rare set of interdisciplinary skills that meet the rising demand for professionals who can manage responsible and trustworthy use of AI.

This highly sought-after skillset will appeal to a diverse range of employers across all, sectors and prepare you for emerging career opportunities as AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives.