Politics of Artificial Intelligence

Will machines overpower humans in political debate? This course will introduce students to emerging debates and critical inquiries into the role of algorithms and artificial intelligence in shaping politics and society. The readings and discussions will highlight how algorithms and artificial intelligence systems have emerged as a significant technopolitical reality of our times, especially in relation to the expansion of digital social media. The course will begin with introductory overview of what artificial intelligence actual means and what machines can do and cannot do in the political sphere. Dispelling several myths associated with artificial intelligence, the course will then highlight the actual and potential dangers – as well as opportunities – in deploying AI systems in political and social fields. The course will deal with capital “P” – elections, campaigns and political communication – that are affected by algorithmic manipulations and also a more expansive definition of politics in terms of diverse ways in which power and control are exercised and resisted in culturally coded forms in AI inflected environments. The readings will cover topics such as AI assisted political propaganda; ethics of artificial intelligence and digital privacy; decolonizing artificial intelligence; AI and online extreme speech; AI and disinformation; AI and freedom of expression; and AI and racism. The course will bring a global focus on these pertinent issues. We will peruse existing debates on AI and algorithms in the EU context, and selected cases from the UK, North America, India, South Africa, the Philippines, and China. 

At the end of the course, students will

• demonstrate knowledge of key debates around the use of AI in political propaganda and ethical concerns around fairness, inclusion and bias; 
  
• develop competence to critically think about the implementation of AI and its ramifications in different global cases;
  
• become familiar with key theoretical positions on decoloniality, privacy and freedom of expression in relation to AI and democratic political cultures. 

The course has no specific prerequisites.

Grading and participation

Students are encouraged to read the key texts assigned to each class, and prepare responses and questions to participate in classroom discussions. Final grading is based on a full-length response to one question (out of two) that will be given on the last day of the course in an open book examination.