Leverhulme CFI will lead the new Cambridge Master’s degree in one of the biggest issues of modern times, the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Popularised in science fiction by killer robots, AI technology is actually already a part of everyday life in forms like Alexa, face ID, and Google maps. CFI has spent the last four years at the forefront of research on AI's impact and will now consolidate and translate this research into practical knowledge and skills for professionals.
As evidence of its timeliness, the degree which launched yesterday has already made news headlines in The Independent, MSN, BBC Radio, The Times, The Telegraph, and over 100 regional papers.
The new Master of Studies in AI Ethics and Society will teach professionals in all areas — from engineers and policymakers to health administrators and HR managers — how to anticipate and mitigate risk and use AI for good.
Executive Director of CFI, Dr Stephen Cave, says, “There are lots of risks posed by AI that are much more immediate than a robot revolt. There have been several examples which have featured prominently in the news, showing how it can be used in ways that exacerbate bias and injustice."
“It's crucial that future leaders are trained to manage these risks so we can make the most of this amazing technology. This pioneering new course aims to do just that.”
While society’s understanding of AI ethics has grown fast, bridges from research to real-life applications are scarce, and access to rigorous qualifications in responsible AI are sorely lacking. Dr Cave says the new degree will address those concerns. “People are using AI in different ways across every industry, and they are asking themselves, ‘How can we do this in a way that broadly benefits society?’
“We have brought together cutting-edge knowledge on the responsible and beneficial use of AI, and want to impart that to the developers, policymakers, businesspeople and others who are making decisions right now about how to use these technologies,” says Cave.
The Master of studies in AI Ethics and Society promises to develop leaders who can confidently tackle the most pressing AI challenges facing their workplaces. These include issues of privacy, surveillance, justice, fairness, algorithmic bias, misinformation, microtargeting, Big Data, responsible innovation, data governance, and more.
In gathering professionals from across the country and internationally, the course will build diverse networks of professionals, researchers, and government leaders dedicated to responsible AI. The course will also help position the UK as a global leader in beneficial AI, now and into the future.
Applications for the new degree close on 31st March 2021, with the first cohort commencing in October 2021.