TECH 50 Z — Demystifying AI: Insights from the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence
Quarter: Summer
Instructor(s): Nestor Maslej
Date(s): Jun 24—Aug 12
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Tuesdays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 6:30—8:00 pm (PT)
Tuition: $460
Refund Deadline: Jun 26
Unit(s): 1
Status: Open
Quarter: Summer
Day: Tuesdays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 6:30—8:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jun 24—Aug 12
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $460
Refund Deadline: Jun 26
Instructor(s): Nestor Maslej
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
Imagine a world where AI tutors adapt perfectly to your learning style, new drugs are discovered in record time, and job markets are created faster than ever before. Hidden within this whirlwind of progress are critical choices to be made about cost, data bias, and environmental impact. Join us for an extraordinary journey into the complex landscape of AI, a realm of both breathtaking potential and profound ethical dilemmas. We will use the AI Index report—an annual study of trends in AI from the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI)—as our guide. This rigorously vetted annual report tracks and distills the latest AI research. It captures the most pressing topics and relevant data that empower the decisions of everyone, from global leaders to the general public. These decisions shape AI’s future by prioritizing human well-being and societal benefit, which aligns with HAI’s mission to advance AI to improve the human condition.
Taught by HAI research manager and the AI Index report’s editor-in-chief, Nestor Maslej, this course will explore some of AI’s most pressing topics. We’ll examine:
Taught by HAI research manager and the AI Index report’s editor-in-chief, Nestor Maslej, this course will explore some of AI’s most pressing topics. We’ll examine:
- Global investment trends and how they drive AI development
- AI’s role in both fighting and perpetuating inequality
- The hidden energy footprint of these complex systems
Students can choose to attend this course on campus or online. Sign up for Section H if you think you might attend class on the Stanford campus at least once. There is no commitment—you can still choose to attend via Zoom for any session. Sign up for Section Z if you know you will exclusively attend via Zoom.
NESTOR MASLEJ
Research Manager, Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Stanford
Nestor Maslej manages the AI Index and Global AI Vibrancy Tool at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). His work on AI, namely the AI Index, has been cited in newspapers across the globe. He is a fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), where he regularly writes opinion pieces on developments in AI. Maslej's publications have informed AI policymaking worldwide. He received an MPhil in comparative government from the University of Oxford and a BA in social studies from Harvard.
Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.