Undergraduate Course: Artificial Intelligence and Global Development (AFRI10008)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The release of ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022 was described by some as 'the shot that was heard around the world, which brought the advances in the world of Artificial Intelligence to the awareness of the broader populace'. In the few years since this launch AI has come to inspire utopian and dystopian visions of the future in equal measure. In this course we will draw on interdisciplinary insights from the growing field of Critical AI Studies to examine the economic, political and social impact of AI in the global north and the global south. We will consider how have the benefits and the burdens of this rapid AI innovation been distributed across the globe as well as the different models for regulating AI in order to minimise the negative impacts of this technology. |
| Course description |
In this course, we will examine the social, economic, and political impacts and implications of the rapid acceleration in AI innovation and its increasing adoption within society. The course will address some of the following indicative topics:
AI winters and hype cycles
AI, Economic Growth and the Digital Divide
Smart Cities and Algorithmic Governmentality
Race, Gender and Algorithmic Bias
The Environmental Footprint of AI
AI and Exploitation
AI and Geopolitics
AI Regulation and Governance
AI for Social Good
The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, practical exercises, class discussions, and group presentations. The lectures will be given by the course organiser and occasional guest lecturers. These will be accompanied by practical exercises e.g. a geopolitical simulations, designing an algorithm, litigating an AI related court case, or designing an AI enabled tool that addresses a development problem.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the key theories and concepts relating to Critical AI Studies
- Analyse competing perspectives in debates on the social, political, economic impacts of AI
- Critically examine the real world impact of AI innovations in different parts of the world
- Communicate knowledge and understanding of the social, political and economic impacts of AI to peers and specialists on a professional level
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Reading List
Zerill J., J. Danaher, J. Maclaurin, C. Gavaghan, & A. Knott (2021) A Citizen's Guide to Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press.
Andreessen M. (2023), 'The Techno-Optimist Manifesto', 16 October. Available at https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
Acemoglu D, (2025), 'The simple macroeconomics of AI', Economic Policy, Volume 40, Issue 121: 15-58.
Dinika A., (2024) 'The Human Cost Of Our AI-Driven Future', Noema Magazine, 25 September. Available at https://www.noemamag.com/the-human-cost-of-our-ai-driven-future/
Iazzolino, G. & N Stremlau, (2024), 'AI for social good and the corporate capture of global development', Information technology for development, 30(4).
Petit, N. & J. De Cooman, (2022) 'Models of law and regulation for AI' in A. Elliott (ed), The Routledge Social Science Handbook of AI. Routledge.
Brynjolfsson E., B. Chandar, R. Chen (2025) 'Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence', Stanford Digital Economy Lab Working Paper. Available at https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/publication/canaries-in-the-coal-mine-six-facts-about-the-recent-employment-effects-of-artificial-intelligence/ |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical and reflective thinking abilities in approaching a significant range of the key theories, concepts and policies relating to Artificial Intelligence and its social, political and economic impacts.
Skilled communication, both written (through essay and exam open-ended questions) and verbal (through participation in classroom activities and discussions). |
| Keywords | Artificial intelligence,AI for Social Good,algorithmic governmentality,Responsible AI |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr George Karekwaivanane
Tel:
Email: G.karekwaivanane@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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