Ateneo - UPO

Artificial Intelligence: benefits and risks This course will address the topic of artificial intelligence, a crucial and increasingly urgent topic in light of the recent Large Language Models revolution. The approach will be highly interdisciplinary, involving philosophy of information, ethics of technology, political philosophy and political science

Powerpoint available on DIR
Stephen Wolfram, “What Is ChatGPT Doing … and Why Does It Work?” https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2023/02/what-is-chatgpt-doing-and-why-does-it-work/
DAIR 2024 “Prompt Engineer Guide” https://www.promptingguide.ai/

Understand what a Large Language Model (LLM) is, conceptually and technically, as a foundation for informed use
Enable participants to apply LLMs effectively in enterprise contexts by mastering core tools, prompting strategies, and integration practices
Understand and evaluate the real likelihood of ethical, political and existential risks that ever more autonomous AI agents pose

Logical-linguistic competence from high school

In addition to face-to-face lectures, each meeting will include a dialogic session in which students will discuss texts and directly experience the use of Large Language Models (LLMs). This approach aims to develop students' critical skills and provide them with practical skills in the use of AI, an increasingly essential skill in the contemporary world.

Final essay on a topic related to the course (max 4000 words) (70%), Active class participation (30%). Those who cannot attend will have to take a brief oral exams on the topics of the course

The first, more theoretical part will answer the question “What is an AI?” It will explore philosophical concepts such as the nature of intelligence and when an automated information system can be considered truly intelligent. An empirical overview of the development of artificial intelligence will also be provided: from its origins, through its current state, to the perspective of Artificial General Intelligence or Superintelligence. The second part of the workshop will be devoted to the political risks of AI. We will examine both catastrophic risks, often discussed by philosophers and scientists, and more immediate threats to social justice, such as the spread of invisible biases and the transfer of political power from humans to algorithms. Concrete examples will be analyzed and discussed, such as the use of AI courts in China and the proposal of AI governments advanced by some parties in northern Europe.

Distinguish between reality and marketing behind AI 2. Learn to use LLM in a critical and intelligent way 3. Understand potential problem that LLMs cause