CS 492 W24 Course Timetable

Timetable of Topics, RPEs, and Assignment Due Dates

In a non-RPE week, discussions will consume the entirety of the time on Tuesday and Thursday. The following is a set of readings for each week. Do not feel pressured to read each and every paper (there are a lot of papers below!) but do try to read about one hour's worth of material before each lecture in order to prepare yourself for in class discussions. This list of papers will be updated throughout the course as students suggestions are received. Reading times are loosely based on reading 250 words per minute (which apparently is the approximate average reading speed).

Please read this if you have trouble accessing any resources from off-campus.

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Abbreviated Time Table:

Week 1 (May 7, 9) - Logistics; Overview of Social Implications of Computing
Week 2 (May 14, 16, 17) - The Internet; In class Video; Assignment 1 Due Friday May 17th at 10:00am;
Week 3 (Note May 21 follows Monday Schedule! May 23) - Social Media
Week 4 (May 28, 30) - RPE1 on Censorship; RPE2 on Computer Piracy
Week 5 (June 4, 6, 7) - RPE3 on Computers and Universal Identifiers; RPE4 on Misinformation; Assignment 2 Due Friday June 7th at 10:00am
Week 6 (June 11, 13) - Privacy and Social Control; Security
Week 7 (June 18, 20, 21) - Ethics; Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models (Chat GPT) Assignment 3 Due Friday June 21st at 10:00am
Week 8 (June 25, 27) - Computer-Mediated Communication; Fears of Computerization and Surveillance
Week 9 (July 2, 4, 5) - Video Games; Gender Balance and Marginalization Assignment 4 Due Friday July 5th at 10:00am
Week 10 (July 9. 11) - RPE5 on AI; RPE6 on Net Neutrality
Week 11 (July 16, 18) - RPE7 on Displacement of Workers; RPE8 on Computers and Children
Week 12 (July 23, 25, 26) - Work: E-Commerce and the Changing Workplace and Nature of Work and Productivity; Crypto Ransomware; Assignment 5 Due Friday July 26th at 10:00am;
Week 13 (July 30) - Environment

Detailed Time Table:

Week 1
- May 7: Overview of course, discussion of social implications of computers
- May 9: Continued discussion of overview of social implications of computers
- Readings:
  - First Day Video: 'Godfather of AI' discusses dangers the developing technologies pose to society
  - (15 min - very important to read this paper as it frames the course!) Paper: Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change
  - (13 min) Paper: Some Thoughts About the Social Implications of Accessible Computing
  - (13 min) Paper: Human Values and the Future of Technology
  - (5 min) Paper: No More Phones and Other Tech Predictions for the Next Decade Factiva internal link
  - (3 min) Paper: Unintended consequences
  - (6 min) Paper: A Future Where Everything Becomes a Computer is as Creepy as You Feared Factiva internal link
  - (3 min) Paper: A declaration of the dependence of cyberspace
  - (3 min) Paper: Researchers argue AI ethics should include animal welfare

Week 2
- May 13: RPEs preferences submitted
- May 13: RPEs finalized
- May 14: The Internet
- May 16: Video on the Internet (Highway to Cyberia) Youtube Link
- May 17: Assignment 1 due at 10:00am
- Readings - The Internet:
- (12 min) Paper: The Internet’s Final Frontier: Remote Amazon Tribes Factiva internal Link

Week 3
- May 21: No Classes - Follow Monday Schedule
- May 23: Social Media
- Readings - Social Media
- (4 min) Paper: What happened when the world’s most populous nation turned off TikTok

Week 4
- RPE week. Make sure you read the Position Papers Pinned on Piazza and be prepared to ask questions of the groups.
- May 28: RPE1 on censorship
- May 30: RPE2 on Computer Piracy

Week 5
- RPE week. Make sure you read the Position Papers Pinned on Piazza and be prepared to ask questions of the groups.
- June 4: RPE3 on Computers and Universal Identifiers
- June 6: RPE4 on Misinformation
- June 7: Assignment 2 due at 10:00am

Week 6
- June 11: Privacy and Social Control
- June 13: Security
- Readings:
- (3 min) Paper: Adobe joins Microsoft in admitting it's now basically spyware
- (1 min) Paper: Canada, U.K. launch joint privacy probe into 23andMe data breach

Week 7
- June 18: Ethics
- June 20: Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models (Chat GPT)
- June 21: Assignment 3 due at 10:00am
- Readings:
- (5 min) Paper: Tech workers should shine a light on the industry’s secretive work with the military
- (6 min) Paper: Adobe’s Commitment to AI Ethics
- (6 min) Paper: 'Please do not launch': Google's rush to win in AI race led to ethical lapses, employees say
- (8 min) Paper: Sheryl Crow: 'Resurrecting Tupac with AI is hateful'
Large Language Models (ChatGPT) and AI
- (4 min) Paper: TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universal
- (15 min) Paper: This AI-powered “black box” could make surgery safer
- (10 min) Paper: For Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI, machines are closer to humans than we think
- (5 min) Paper: It won an award for AI images. Just one problem: It was a real photo.
- (6 min) Paper: Indian election was awash in deepfakes – but AI was a net positive for democracy
- (3 min) Paper: SNU alums nabbed for digital sex crimes
- (3 min) Paper: Is AI making us dumber?
- (8 min) Paper: Deepfakes Are Going To Wreak Havoc On Society. We Are Not Prepared
- (4 min) Paper: Tough jail terms for deepfake porn peddlers under new laws Factiva internal link
- (6 min) Paper: New UNESCO report warns that Generative AI threatens Holocaust memory
- (6 min) Paper: The AI bill that has Big Tech panicked

Week 8
- June 25: Computer-Mediated Communication
- June 27: Fears from Computerization
- Readings:

Week 9
- July 2: Video Games
- July 4: Gender Balance and Marginalization
- July 5: Assignment 4 due at 10:00am
- Readings:

Week 10
- RPE week. Make sure you read the Position Papers Pinned on Piazza and be prepared to ask questions of the groups.
- July 9: RPE5 on AI
- July 11: RPE6 on Net Neutrality

Week 11
- RPE week. Make sure you read the Position Papers Pinned on Piazza and be prepared to ask questions of the groups.
- July 16: RPE7 on Displacement of Workers
- July 18: RPE8 on Computers and Children

Week: 12
- July 23: Work: E-Commerce and the Changing Workplace and Nature of Work and Productivity
- July 23: Cryptocurrencies, Ransomware and Hacking
- July 26: Assignment 5 due at 10:00am
- Readings:
- (5 min) Paper: State actor behind cyberattack on B.C. government systems
Week 13
- July 30: Environment
- Readings:
- (7 min) Paper: The Environmental Impact of ChatGPT: A Call for Sustainable Practices In AI Development
- (3 min) Paper: Microsoft's AI Push Jeopardizes Climate Goals as Emissions Surge
- (3 min) Paper: VivaTech 2024: Tech companies and start-ups present AI solutions to tackle food and water waste
- (14 min) Paper: AI is exhausting the power grid. Tech firms are seeking a miracle solution. Factiva internal link
- (3 min) Paper: The Troubling Triumph of the Supercheap Gadget
- (4 min) Paper: Google’s emissions climb nearly 50% in five years due to AI energy demand