Intelligence: Artificial and Otherwise (ATCM

📜 Course Description

The course inquires into the nature and character of intelligence understood as a cognitive process that transpires via semiosis, or a process of meaning-making. We will ask questions such as: How do we recognize intelligence? Who and/or what might be considered intelligent? What does this mean exactly, especially in the context of emerging debates regarding new technologies called "Artificial Intelligence"? In order to address these questions, we will engage materials (e.g., popular, theoretical, historical, etc.) across a variety of fields, including but not limited to: neuroscience/cognitive science, cybernetics and early AI, philosophy, literature, and aesthetics. We will analyze cultural objects produced using AI tools; we will conduct experiments with such tools, e.g., ChatGPT , Dall-E 2, etc. Ultimately, we will contemplate the implications of the variations on the "A" in "AI," e.g., "artificial," "augmented," "alternative," etc. The culminating assignment will be critical and creative.

This class is an applied philosophy of science. In other words, we seek clarity on how do we do artificial intelligence, why do we make these specific tools, and how do we plan to use them. Most importantly, the class investigates how these tools guide our decision making and finds ways that we can be both more critical and more cognizant of the tools we make.

Technologies & Platforms

• Class website: This website will have your schedule, lectures, instructions, reading materials, and everything else you need. If you're reading this, then you're in the right place.
• MS Teams: We will use MS Teams as the place for you to meet during lab, have class discussions, and talk to me! It's not perfect, but it will serve our purposes.

Microsoft Teams

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www.utdallas.edu


• eLearning: We'll use eLearning to turn in your Think Pieces, Assignments, and any other class materials for a grade. However, this website is the source of truth for all dates and activities. So if you want to know when something is due, check here first.
• Miro: We'll use Miro for brainstorming activities. While I prefer actual sticky notes, whiteboards, and anything else likely to make a mess - this digital equivalent will have to work for now.
• Hypothes. Is: This is an online annotation tool we will use as a group. It allows us to set up groups to see each other’s comments, questions, and critiques on the weekly readings.
• Notion: We’ll use Notion to add comments on class pages and keep up to date with each other.

🧰 What You'll Get Out of This Class

• The ability to think critically about technology
• The ability to be reflexive and challenge your own ideas
• A deep understanding of how we are building AI as an infrastructure

📚 Readings

All readings are provided for you - no need to buy textbooks. I've provided links to all readings on the class website.

🗓 Schedule

🏆 Grading

😢 Plagiarism

Presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with severe consequences. In short, don't do it.