Submit each question individually through the appropriate TurnItIn portal on Blackboard. Please ensure that you receive a TurnItIn receipt showing that your paper was accepted by the portal.
For each prompt below, please write up to 2 single-spaced pages (including references, approximately ½ page). DO NOT GO OVER 2 PAGES! Please use APA-citations, for both in-text and the references section. Organization, grammar, and clarity will be considered during marking.
Each essay question should focus on a central thesis supported with:
- Your personal thoughts and opinions on the material
- At least 2 references to lecture slides
- At least 2 references to syllabus readings + 1 book chapter (Green or Brynjolfsson) reference
- At least 1 reference to outside research
Prompt 1: Critical Thinking (Up to 7 points)
“Success in creating effective AI, could be the greatest event in the history of our civilization…. Unless we learn how to prepare for, and avoid, the potential risks, AI could be the worst event in the history of our civilization.” – Stephen Hawking, Web Summit technology conference in 2017
How do we govern AI? What policies does the government need to pass to ensure that AI is the “greatest event” and not the “worst event” in human history? Who is responsible to ensure that we, as a society, are prepared for the exponential rate of change AI will bring? What actions can you take as an individual to ensure that you will benefit from this technological transformation instead of being left behind?
Prompt 2: Persuasive Essay (Up to 7 points)
What do you believe is the most transformative/important implementation of AI technologies for cities? What is the most engaging/meaningful implementation of AI technologies for cities? What is the easiest/quickest implementation of AI technologies for cities? Explain and defend your answers to each of the above three questions with a different AI technology, referring to the in-class student presentations for at least 2 of your 3 choices. All other essay requirements still apply.
Prompt 3: Philosophical Reasoning (Up to 7 points)
After what you have learned in this course, how is artificial intelligence similar and different from human intelligence? Where does animal intelligence fit in? What about collective intelligence versus individual intelligence? Considering the overlap in skills between animals, humans, and robots, how does that change your thinking about what it means to ‘be human’?
There is no one correct answer to any of these prompts, however we are looking for critical thought and fulfillment of essay requirements. Outside research will significantly help with these prompts.
