University of Utah Introduces AI Ethics Class Amid Growing Concerns Over Artificial Intelligence's Impact on Society

A new class at the University of Utah aims to equip students with the skills to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The course, which is part of the university’s One-U Responsible AI initiative, will explore the ethics surrounding AI design, regulation, and use. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into various aspects of life, concerns about its impact on society are growing, and this class arrives at a critical time to address these issues.

The University of Utah’s new AI Ethics class is co-developed by associate professor of Philosophy C. Thi Nguyen and Kahlert School of Computing professor Jeff Philips. The course will delve into various topics, including fairness and discrimination in automated prediction, authorship and ownership in generative media, environmental costs, replacement of work, and impacts on human flourishing. Students will engage with case studies, papers by AI ethicists, and participate in discussions to develop a deeper understanding of the ethical considerations surrounding AI development.

Nguyen emphasizes that superintelligent evil AI is only one of many concerns related to AI. He notes that job displacement, bias baked into systems, and systemic bias in AI hirings are all pressing issues that require attention. The class will address these topics through a combination of theoretical discussions and practical applications, enabling students to develop responsible approaches to AI development.

The course is designed for computer science majors who have taken CS 1410 or CS 1420, as well as philosophy majors without prerequisites. It’s also available as an elective for any undergraduate student and will be required for students in the new AI Major starting in Fall semester of 2026. The class aims to bridge the gap between technical expertise and philosophical considerations, recognizing that ethics is not just a secondary concern but an integral part of responsible AI development.

One of the inspirations behind this course was Harvard’s Embedded EthiCS initiative, which grew out of students’ requests for more focus on the moral implications of technology. The University of Utah has adopted a similar approach by co-developing materials and teaching with both philosophers and computer scientists. This ‘aggressive interdisciplinarity’ aims to make ethics an integral part of AI development, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Nguyen notes that students are already asking pressing questions about the impact of AI on society. They want to know if relying too heavily on automation will lead to a loss of moral and social skills. The class will explore these concerns through real-world examples, such as how machine learning was used to predict successful student outcomes in universities but ended up being biased towards certain groups.

Another example discussed in the course is the COMPAS case, where a machine learning risk assessment tool used in the U.S. criminal justice system was found to be racist despite not being intentionally designed that way. Nguyen emphasizes that these issues are not just theoretical concerns but real-world problems that require attention and solutions. The class will tackle the concept of value-ladenness – technologies and methods that appear neutral on the surface but make very value-laden, politically charged decisions due to their design.

The course also addresses moral and social deskilling: what happens when people rely too heavily on automation and lose essential skills like critical thinking and hearing criticism. Nguyen uses ChatGPT as an example of how AI can be used in therapy settings but notes that it lacks the ability to challenge or critique, which is a crucial aspect of human interaction.

Nguyen believes that focusing solely on the dangers of superintelligent AI distracts from more pressing concerns like job displacement and social erosion. He hopes that this class will inspire students to design AI for good by incorporating ethics into code development rather than relying solely on regulations or international agreements.

The University of Utah’s new AI Ethics class is a timely response to growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on society. By equipping students with the skills to navigate these complex issues, the course aims to inspire goodness and sensitivity in AI development.