7272. Artificial Intelligence and Social Impact

This course examines the growing role of artificial intelligence in decisions that shape major life outcomes, including housing, health care, and employment. Drawing on social science research, case law, and policy, students will explore how AI systems operate in practice, the benefits and risks they create, and their disproportionate impact on communities that have historically faced barriers to economic and social opportunity. Through engagement with a range of interdisciplinary materials, students will develop the analytical tools needed to critically evaluate AI-driven decision-making, assess existing legal and regulatory responses, and think carefully about what meaningful accountability for these technologies should look like.