I advise against bookmarking this page. Instead, bookmark the home page so you can see announcements for the class, and navigate here as needed.
Check the day and date that the article will be discussed (in bold, on top of each article set).
Homework for day 2 (No memo! Just be ready in class for discussion on 1/30):
Reflection: Pre-class mindset check in. Briefly (1-2 sentences per topic) describe what you know and how you feel about the following subjects. You don’t need to research them if you aren’t already familiar with them, you can simply write “I don’t know what this is.”*
*Within reason. I expect CS/IT majors to have at least some rudimentary understanding of what social media and artificial intelligence are, for example.
- Prelude: Who are you? Start by briefly telling your discussion mates who you are (hobbies, major, etc).
- Social media use
- Privacy with technology use
- Fake news
- The NSA, Cyber Command
- Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, Reality Winner, Frances Haugen
- Drones: warfare/business use/recreational use
- AI at school, AI at work, artistic AI
- Censorship
- Environmental concerns about technology and tech companies
- Copyright infringement/illegal downloading/streaming
- Cryptocurrency
- Telemedicine: would you have robot-assisted surgery? Why/Why not?
- Additional assignment: click through the sidebar of the course website and look at all the different sections to familiarize yourself. On mobile, this list of links is below the rest of the page (instead of on the right side). Just write “done” next to #14 when you complete this chore.
…and don’t forget to do your BOS assignment and Syllabus Quiz (on Canvas, due 2/7).
Reading for day 4 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 2/6):
OpenAI Continues Its Mission of ‘Ethical’ AI by Partnering With a Killer Robot Company by Lucas Ropek for Gizmodo.
Reading for day 6 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 2/13):
The Internet’s Final Frontier: Remote Amazon Tribes by Jack Nicas for the New York Times.
Reading for day 8 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 2/20):
Mass. moves to ban cell phones in schools amid social media harm to kids by John Hilliard for the Boston Globe.
Reading for day 10 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 2/27):
Actually, this one is a video to watch, not a reading! Edward Snowden 2014 interview on NBC. Approximately 40 minutes long; make sure you’re signed in with your UMB credentials. Transcription here. If you haven’t already, please read the detailed project instructions and start working with your team.
Reading for day 12 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 3/6):
New report clarifies US copyright rules for AI-created and human-modified art by Jonny Walfisz for EuroNews.
Reading for day 16 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 3/27):
There are two short articles to read for Day 16:
The Price We Pay Betting on Sports by Dr. Carl Erik Fisher for the New York Times
and
Massachusetts Joins States Weighing Online Casino Legislation from Legal Sports Report
Reading for day 18 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 4/3):
Hegseth Disclosed Secret War Plans in Group Chat With Atlantic Journalist by Cooper and Schmitt for the New York Times
Reading for day 20 (will be the basis of class discussion and memo on 4/10):
I did a Digital Detox Retreat, and Here’s My Review by Annita Katee for PopSugar.