The ethics of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on society are some of the pressing issues addressed in a new online course taught by world-leading academics at the University of Bristol.
AI Fundamentals is free and designed to be suitable for anyone who wants to understand the ideas and methodologies driving this revolutionary technology, as well as the risks and challenges posed by its rapid adoption.
AI Fundamentals is intentionally designed to be suitable for learners of all backgrounds who want to deepen their understanding of what AI is, how it works, what it can do, and how to think about AI, without requiring any coding or math.
The course will be taught by Professor Genevieve Livery, an expert on the risks of new technologies such as AI, and Professor Seth Block, who has been teaching AI to high school, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students since 1994.
“Whether you’re excited about AI, worried about it or just curious, this course will explain the fundamental concepts behind it and enable you to think critically about what it is and what it can do,” said Professor Block, director of the UKRI Collective Intelligence and AI National Research Hub.
Bristol is ideal for running your course, with our highly regarded reputation as AI University of the Year 2024, home to world-leading AI research and education, and hosting Isambard-AI, the world’s fastest university supercomputer.
Participants will benefit from the diverse perspectives of researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, medicine, philosophy, cybersecurity, chemistry, humanities, law, business, engineering, and neuroscience. Among the subjects covered will be the use and relevance of AI in business, science, education, the workplace, and the home. Special attention will be paid to topics such as AI safety, bias, sustainability, and environmental impact.
Professor Block added: “AI is an innovative and disruptive technology that is becoming increasingly important. It also comes with a lot of jargon that can make you uncomfortable. This course breaks through all of that. There’s no math, there’s no coding, and there’s no expectation that everyone who enrolls will become an AI developer or super user. It’s just an invitation to build the confidence to learn what AI can do.”
Most of the course material is non-technical and includes specific case studies that showcase the use of AI in various fields.
AI Fundamentals is a self-paced online course, supported by a £50,000 alumni donation and funding from the UKRI National Research Hub in AI for Collective Intelligence. Participants can plan their own study time, which will amount to approximately 3 hours per week for 4 weeks.
AI Fundamentals provides general readers with a solid foundational understanding of this increasingly influential technology. For undergraduate students and those already studying at university, this is an opportunity to learn and strengthen core skills for the future.
Participants can enroll in the course via FutureLearn. It is free and open to everyone, and all participants can complete it in their own time and receive a downloadable certificate.
AI Fundamentals is the latest course to be offered as part of the university’s short course portfolio, designed to help learners develop the skills and confidence they need for their careers, while giving them the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.
The University’s existing courses are a huge success and are taken by thousands of Bristol students each year as part of the Bristol PLUS Employability Awards.
Detailed information
Explore AI at the University of Bristol
Curious about where AI can take you? Study an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bristol, take a short course and learn the skills to shape the future in one of the UK’s leading tech cities.
Discover AI in Bristol
