Responsible AI Courses Initiative

Responsible AI Courses Initiative

Status: Active program (2022-2024)

Geographic Scope: United States

Overview: A Google-funded initiative to help universities develop responsible artificial intelligence courses. The program partners with faculty from leading colleges and universities to create and implement undergraduate courses focused on ethical and social dimensions of AI.

Program Details

• Funding Source: Google
• Launch Date: 2022
• Duration: Multi-year initiative
• Faculty Institutes: Intensive, week-long institutes at the National Humanities Center
- First institute: June 2022 - Second institute: Spring/Summer 2024

Participating Institutions (15 total)

• Arizona State University
• Bowdoin College
• Case Western Reserve University
• Davidson College
• Duke University
• George Mason University
• Johnson C. Smith University
• North Carolina State University
• Rice University
• Swarthmore College
• Texas A&M University
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia
• University of Utah

Institutional Diversity

• Leading public and private research universities
• Liberal arts colleges
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Hispanic Serving Institutions

Course Development

• Focus: How AI technologies are integrated into modern life and ethical issues in development and deployment
• Approach: Humanistic study and reflection on AI
• Outcomes: Course descriptions, learning goals, syllabi for undergraduate courses
• Implementation: Courses offered at home institutions during 2023–24 academic year

Program Activities

• Faculty gather for intensive, week-long institute to discuss:
- Social and cultural dynamics of AI technologies - Best pedagogical approaches for student engagement
• Faculty return for assessment and recommendations for wider dissemination
• Future phases planned involving additional institutions in US and internationally

Context & Rationale

• Based on recommendations from "In Our Image: Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities" conference (Spring 2021)
• Addresses urgent need for students trained in both STEM and humanities skills
• Responds to industry recognition of need for AI-driven technologies that consider users and affected communities
• Builds on NHC's 40+ year commitment to bridging scholarly research and classroom teaching

Contact

Don Solomon, Director of Communications 919.406.0120