The module surveys key cultural themes in artificial intelligence such as intelligence, consciousness, perception and creativity. The aim is to provide students with both a historical and theoretical understanding of the many debates that inform and surround the field of artificial intelligence while also enabling them to intervene in the debate aptly and competently.

This module addresses those questions concerned with the attribution of intelligence, consciousness and creativity to machines. No doubts, views on these matters have been many, opposing and diverse and yet they contributed to what can now be said to be a rich historical debate. Hence, the module surveys readings from key authors that have contributed to inform and shape the landscape of the cultural debate on the possibility - or impossibility - of the artificiality of intelligence (Weiner, Turing, Kapp, Desseaur, Searle, Dennet, Dreyfus, Hofstadter, Boden to mention but a few). Away from its use and/or applied ethics, we will question the meaning of thinking, of behaving intelligently (or stupidly), of behaving creatively and address whether these are or are not apt descriptions (and/or effect, qualia etc.) of computational processes. The module, as a whole, aims to inform and prepare students to intervene in the debate by arguing their positions supported by an understanding of the key issues and positions in AI culture and their historical evolution.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • recount a series of key issues surrounding the AI cultural debate • contrast opposing views within key issues in the AI cultural debate • construct a timeline of significant intervention in the history the AI cultural debate • engage critically with the views within a debate • interject the debate with their own argument

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • To relate to views of others. • To challenges ideas their own and other ideas. • To embrace the intricate nature of cultural debates.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: n/a

The module will be taught through a curated list of readings that will be analysed, appraised and critiqued in the classroom. Sessions will be both carried as one discussion group (the class) and several sub-discussion groups (class split in several groups of three to four participants)