AI and Ethics: Privacy, Surveillance, Bias and Transparency
Explore AI ethics and critical thinking tools for ethical questions around privacy, surveillance, bias and transparency.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
AI and Ethics: Privacy, Surveillance, Bias and Transparency
Explore the ethical challenges of AI and data
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used to make decisions, analyse information and perform tasks once carried out by people. But when AI relies on personal data, how can we understand and respond to the ethical issues these systems raise?
This two-week taster course introduces key ideas in AI ethics and data ethics. You’ll explore ethical questions around privacy, surveillance, bias and transparency, using real-world examples, discussion and practical activities.
Explore AI, privacy and surveillance
Consider what AI is and how AI systems depend on data. Explore privacy and surveillance in the age of AI, including personal data, online consent and data collection.
Understand AI bias and black boxes
Discover how bias can enter AI systems and why some AI decision-making processes can be difficult to understand. Explore the ethical issues raised by biased and opaque systems and their impact on people and society.
Apply ethical thinking to real-world examples
Investigate current uses of AI and consider their potential benefits and ethical concerns. A case study of the COMPAS algorithm explores questions around bias, transparency and decision-making in practice.
Consider approaches to ethical challenges
Explore ways of addressing ethical challenges, including algorithmic transparency and accountability, codes of ethics, and reappraising the kinds of AI systems that we create. You’ll also examine professional codes of ethics and how they can help address ethical issues in AI.
You’ll learn through videos, readings, polls, knowledge checks, and discussions. By the end of the course, you’ll have explored key ethical questions around AI and data and considered how ethical principles can inform the development and use of AI.
Syllabus
Week 1
AI, Privacy and Surveillance
Welcome
Before you get started, take some time to meet your Lead Educator, Dr Paula Satne, who will provide an overview of the learning journey for this course. You will also have the opportunity to meet fellow learners.
Introduction to AI
In this activity, you will consider your intuitions about some of the ethical questions that surround artificial intelligence before moving on to briefly familiarise yourself with the key definitions and concepts surrounding AI.
Privacy and data collection
In this activity, you will explore the notion of valid consent for the obtention of personal data as explained in Carissa Véliz’s arguments about violations of privacy.
Surveillance and data collection
You will be introduced to Dr Kevin Macnish’s alternative view on data collection and privacy violation and take a stand on the problem by assessing the two competing accounts.
Summary
You will read a summary about this week’s learning and reflect on your opinions on AI and privacy.
Week 2
Bias, transparency and black boxes
Welcome
This week, you will analyse the complex interplay between biases in data collection and transparency, or the lack of it, in Artificial Intelligence systems.
Bias and AI Systems
In this activity, you will define and investigate bias before reflecting on how bias enters AI systems.
AI and the ‘black box’ problem
In this second activity, you will explore the AI ‘black box’ problem through the COMPAS case study, examining how biased AI systems can lead to unfair outcomes and impact decision-making in the criminal justice system.
Meeting the challenge
Students are introduced to attempts to tackle the challenges of AI with a code of ethics and other possible solutions.
Summary
This is a summary of learning from this week.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain key concepts and forms of artificial intelligence.
- Discuss the ethical significance of privacy, consent, and personal data collection in AI systems.
- Evaluate contrasting philosophical approaches to privacy and surveillance and apply them to contemporary AI-related issues.
- Explain how unfair bias can enter AI systems and the ethical concerns this raises.
- Discuss the ‘black box’ problem and its implications for transparency, accountability, and decision-making.
- Evaluate real-world cases and ethical responses to bias and opacity in AI systems.
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone interested in the ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence and data. It may be particularly relevant to professionals working in law, healthcare, finance, engineering, local government, IT, HR, professional services, policy, governance or leadership roles, especially where AI and data are influencing decision-making. The course is also suitable if you are considering further study in AI ethics, data ethics or related fields. No specialist technical knowledge is required. This taster course focuses on understanding and discussing the ethical issues raised by AI rather than developing AI systems or programming skills.
Who will you learn with?
Paula Satne is a Lecturer in Applied Ethics at the University of Leeds. She specializes in ethics and political philosophy. She teaches a range of courses on the ethics of AI and data science.
Who developed the course?
University of Leeds
As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.
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| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $54/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 2 weeks |
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| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
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Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$54/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 2 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
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- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
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- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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