A new Tennessee Tech course breaks down the ethical responsibility of AI users for the next generation of the workforce.
Professor Amy Hill said she developed her AI Ethics course to encourage the proper use of AI. Hill said the program focuses on popular industries using AI, like education, finance, healthcare, manufacturing and retail.
“There are so many tools out there that are available to students to use AI,” Hill said. “And, you know, it can be overwhelming and we just kind of really want them to keep in mind the ethical focus of it, that the use of AI should be more beneficial to the public than detrimental to the public.”
Hill said young people understand ethical concepts, but AI is not a clear ethical situation. Hill said her students struggle with the grey areas during discussions. Hill said group discussions are an essential tool for breaking down complex concepts, like copyright laws or the healthcare system, and how they apply to AI.
“There are so many tools out there that are available out there to students to use AI and you know it can be overwhelming,” Hill said. “And we just kinda really want them to keep in mind the ethical focus of it.”
Hill said she shifted the course focus toward industries that could produce jobs. She said all majors can take the online course, as her material applies to all industries. Hill said anyone from business and marketing majors, to engineering majors, take her class.
“We would look at AI in different industries and we would look at it from both sides, like the potential for good and the potential for, you know, negative consequences of using AI.” Hill said. “So that was really the basic framework it was set upon.”
She started teaching the course three years ago and since then the course has grown. Hill said the class started with about eight students, and now the class has 19 students. Hill said advisors spread the word and recommended her class to students.
