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860-0024-00L 3 Credits DR , DS , MSC D-GESS , D-BIOL
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Digital Society: Ethical, Societal and Economic Challenges

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Dirk Helbing, Dr. Carina Ines Hausladen
VVZ CR 4.1

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:33:17

Abstract

This seminar will address ethical challenges coming along with new digital technologies such as cloud computing, Big Data, artificial intelligence, cognitive computing, quantum computing, robots, drones, Internet of Things, virtual reality, blockchain technology, and more.

Objective

Participants shall learn to understand that any technology implies not only opportunities but also risks. It is important to understand these well in order to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits. In some cases, it is highly non-trivial to identify and avoid undesired side effects of technologies. The seminar will sharpen the attention how to design technologies for values, also called value-sensitive design or ethically aligned design.

Content

For the upcoming spring semester 2025, we have curated a lineup of experts from academia and industry who will provide different perspectives and insights into ethical challenges. Speakers Schedule: 17.02 - Dirk Helbing (ETH Zürich) 24.02 - Mira Luca Wolf Bauwnes (IBM Zurich) 03.03 - Carina I Hausladen (ETH Zürich) 10.03 - Thilo Hagendorff (University of Stuttgart) 17.03 - Vero Estrada-Galiñanes (EPFL) 24.03 - Marcello Ienca (TU Munich) 31.03 - Oana Inel (UZH) Student Presentations: 07.04, 14.04, 05.05, 12.05, 19.05, 26.05 Students will have the opportunity to present their own research and perspectives on technological ethics More details will be provided on Moodle.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Will be provided on Moodle.

Literature

Ethically Aligned Design Version 1: Link Version 2: Link Value-Sensitive Design Link Handbook of Ethics, Values and Technological Design Link Thinking Ahead https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319150772 Towards Digital Enlightenment https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-90869-4 Künstliche Intelligenz und Maschinisierung des Menschen Link Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy (J Taplin) Link How Humans Judge Machines https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humans-Judge-Machines-Cesar-Hidalgo/dp/0262045524/ Ethics of smart cities https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11162 The ethics of AI in health care: a mapping review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953620303919 Soft Ethics and the Governance of the Digital https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13347-018-0303-9 The Ethics of AI Ethics: An Evaluation of Guidelines https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11023-020-09517-8 Principles of robotics: regulating robots in the real world https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540091.2016.1271400 The Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence: Forecasting, Prevention, and Mitigation https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.07228 Will Democracy Survive Big Data and Artificial Intelligence? https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-90869-4_7 Further literature will be recommended in the lectures.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DR , DS , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
To earn credit points, students will have to read the relevant literature on one of the above technologies and give apresentation about the ethical implications. Both, potential problems and possible solutions shall be carefully discussed.

Registration & Places

Max Places
30

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Digital Society: Ethical, Societal and Economic Challenges
  • Mon 12:15-14:00 (ML F 40)
2 h weekly

Offered In