This interdisciplinary program offers a critical framework to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies reinforce or challenge special power dynamics as algorithms are embedded with racial, gendered, and class bias. We will further consider how AI is not objective or neutral but created with the bias of its creators. As AI brings up questions of agency, identity, the mind/body connection, and power, we will examine these issues through an interdisciplinary social justice lens including feminism, trans/queer studies, and critical race theory.   

We will explore questions such as:  

• Does this technology promote hegemonic systems of power?  
• Does AI expand projects of white supremacy, patriarchy, cis-normativity,  heteronormativity, colonialism, nationalism, classism, ableism, and sexism among other intersectional “isms”?  
• Does AI consider the needs and interests of marginalized groups? What are the implications for environmental justice?  
• How can we use these systems for social good? How can we deploy AI in more community and politically generative ways towards social impact?  
• What interventions can we deploy to counter hegemonic structures of oppression? If we could make the world better with AI how would we do it?  

Through lectures, case studies, films, videos, reflective activities, and AI workshops and labs, we will emphasize critical theory and ethical considerations in the use and development of AI. Students will also experiment with AI tools, and consider how they can be re-imagined towards social justice, equity, and inclusion.  

This course meets every Wednesday from 5:30-9pm and is scheduled hi-flex (meaning you can participate both in-person and remote). In addition, students should anticipate 4.5 hours of asynchronous activities (on your own time), such as research and experimentation, pre-recorded lectures, and labs, films, online tutorials and field activities.