Continuing and Professional Education

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, from streamlining operations to enhancing customer experiences. But a 2024 Gallup poll revealed 77% of Americans don’t trust businesses to use AI responsibly. As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace and our everyday lives, understanding its ethical implications is essential to build trust, ensure fairness and innovate responsibly.

This spring, students in our Ethics of AI course explored the balance between AI’s potential and its risks, including how to mitigate ethical concerns like bias, privacy violations, accountability and misinformation. Through hands-on experience, students learned how to critically assess AI’s role in their organizations and make ethical decisions that foster trust and fairness.

“For adult learners, we knew practical application was paramount, so content was trimmed to the essentials, prioritizing scenarios that directly reflect the ethical challenges professionals face today,” Frank Faries, Ph.D., the instructor of the spring course, said. 

Kelly Denny, a university supervisor and lab school specialist in VCU’s School of Education, said taking the Ethics of AI course broadened her understanding of artificial intelligence.

“I hadn't really thought about the ethical side of it,” Denny said. “When is it OK to use this tool? When is it not OK to use this tool? How do you credit that if you use an AI tool? So it did expand my knowledge of AI, but it also prompted me to think about it in ways that I hadn't before.” 

If you missed the spring session, don’t worry. Ethics of AI is returning this fall, and now is the perfect time to begin thinking about enrollment. 

Why Enroll?

• Practical Learning: Direct interaction with AI tools through hands-on assignments.
• Ethical Focus: Examine real-world ethical issues like bias and accountability.
• Career Growth: Equip yourself with skills to navigate AI’s ethical challenges in the workplace.

James Fritz, Ph.D., the instructor for the fall course, hopes students will also leave the course with a lifelong ability to recognize ethical concerns within AI as the technology continues to evolve. 

“AI is changing a mile a minute, and the problems that they'll be noticing a year from today may not be the problems that are most in the news right now,” Fritz said. “We want to equip them with the skills that are going to be necessary for them to keep on doing this, thinking through ethical issues year in and year out, when new stuff is happening with AI that we haven't begun to talk to them about yet.”

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to build a strong foundation for AI-driven decision-making in your career and everyday life. For more information on the course and to reserve your spot for the fall session.