Rights, Responsibilities, and AI
UndergraduateMAQ-PHIX34002025
Course information for 2025 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Price from
- $2,160
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Rights, Responsibilities, and AI
About this subject
On successful completion, a student will be able to:
- Explain the fundamental principles underlying AI, and the normative constraints that it needs to satisfy.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and other socioeconomic implications of AI.
- Demonstrate an understanding of what Responsible AI means, or will mean, in our current as well future society.
- Critically reflect on the use of AI in relevant fields.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials
With increasing entrenchment of AI in human affairs, its scientific, moral, political, economic, and other social aspects are becoming a significant issue. For instance, there is a significant concern that machine learning algorithms contribute to the discrimination against members of oppressed groups (e.g., women, people of colour). This unit, co-designed and co-taught by relevant experts in Computing, Philosophy, and cognate disciplines, will present and discuss key theoretical, ethical, and empirical questions about the conditions of explainable, safe, fair, and responsible AI. Furthermore, it will explore scientific, ethical, political, economic, and other social implications of topical issues such as algorithmic decision making, applications of deep learning models, and robot rights. Students will be exposed to ideas such as balancing risks and responsibilities, both in the scientific and moral sense, in the context of the evolving AI technologies.
- Media presentation (20%)
- Reflective Writing (20%)
- Research Essay (40%)
- Active engagement in discussions and associated activities (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
- MAQ-PHIX2026-The Ethics and Moral Psychology of Good and Evil
- MAQ-PHIX2060-Bioethics and Biotechnology
Others
Pre-requisite 130cp at 1000 level or above
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-ART-DEG
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