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.

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

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.