AI and Society (DIG501)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is about to revolutionise society. Datafication, automation, and algorithms fuel the ability for AI to alter how we communicate, produce knowledge, work, and participate in democracy. These processes are built on top of digital infrastructures that consist of material and physical resources that are owned by a network of actors operating on a global scale. In the political economy of AI, there are questions of power, interest, and process that need to be considered as municipalities, organisations, and businesses embrace the AI revolution. In this course, you will gain the analytical capabilities needed to understand the opportunities and challenges to living and working in the AI society.
This course tackles three key questions: 1) What are the structural, technological, and social transformations that propel the development of AI? 2) What are the potential benefits and challenges that AI adoption present to living and working in the digital society? And 3) To what extent do AI technologies shape the distribution of power in society? These questions will provide the conceptual and critical foundations for exploring one of the most pervasive social transformations in contemporary society facing citizens, governments, and businesses alike.
Furthermore, the course outlines how AI, datafication, and algorithms work as technologies, thus giving you the skills to understand and communicate with the engineers who design, implement, and procure AI systems, constituting unique competences that are in high demand across all sectors of society.
The course is open to all students enrolled in a MA-programme at UiS, or exchange students at MA-level.
Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.
Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.
Course code
DIG501
Version
1
Credits (ECTS)
10
Semester tution start
Autumn
Number of semesters
1
Exam semester
Autumn
Language of instruction
English
Content
The course mobilises political economy, socio-technical theory, and materialist perspectives to understand emerging issues in AI and society in an applied approach to learning. Issues and controversies discussed will be subject to recent and current developments but include topics such as data sovereignty, knowledge production, and infrastructure preparedness; the impact of AI on culture, trust, and identity; technology capture and platform power; misinformation and disinformation; algorithmic bias; data protection and privacy, and AI regulation.
Cases analysed in the course include themes such as bias, power, and equality from a social science perspective. We discuss what really drives technological developments in the AI domain, analysing the economics of AI, its technological foundations, its social and cultural impacts, as well as its regulation.
Job prospects
The course is designed to develop interterdisciplinary analytical skills in the students, enabling them to analyse technology changes and their implications across private and public sector.
The course gives students the technical competencies to understand how AI, datafication, platforms, and algorithms work, enabling them to talk to engineers.
The political economy foundation of the course gives students a solid basis on which to evaluate the impact of AI and its regulation, constituting core capabilities needed in business and organisations making procurement and employment decisions about AI.
Learning outcome
It is expected that the students after completing the course will have the following knowledge, skills, and general competencies.
Knowledge
On completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Critically assess the impact of AI across various social realms.
- Employ social science theories to understand the transformations brought about by AI.
- Discuss the effects of algorithms, datafication, and platforms on social and political relations.
- Thorough knowledge about the interconnection between AI technologies and digital infrastructure.
Skills
On completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Formulate and critically analyse current and emerging challenges associated with AI and society.
- Apply and argue social science theory to AI developments and their societal impacts.
- Work independently under supervision to write a term paper on a relevant topic.
General competencies
On completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Appraise the interconnectedness between AI technologies, digital infrastructures, and society.
- Relate the current AI developments to social science theory and their relevance to the digital society.
- Evaluate the consequences of AI technology on human relations.
- Formulate insights into past, current, and emerging benefits and challenges involving AI technology.
Required prerequisite knowledge
Recommended prerequisites
Exam
| Form of assessment | Weight | Duration | Marks | Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Paper | 1/1 | 1 Semesters | Letter grades | All |
Cooperation is allowed, when applicable please refer to this in the paper.