ATS2292 The ethics of artificial intelligence
Faculty of Arts
ATS2292 The ethics of artificial intelligence is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Caulfield and Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Caulfield, Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ATS2292
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2292
No unit lists ATS2292 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Pre-requisite: 6 credit points of second year Arts units
Overview
Advances in artificial intelligence are poised to transform almost every aspect of modern society – ranging from how we work to how we create art, how we practice medicine to how we fight wars, and how we sentence criminals. This unit draws from moral and political philosophy to ask what role artificial intelligence should play across each of these domains. It examines the social and ethical implications of new and emerging digital technologies, and considers how policymakers, technology companies, and individuals ought to respond to the relevant ethical issues. Topics discussed may include: the ethics of AI in healthcare; moral decisions made by autonomous vehicles; the use of AI in criminal sentencing; the prospect of machine consciousness; and the regulation of dual-use AI technologies that have both beneficial and harmful applications.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Caulfield | On campus |
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Online QuizQuiz / Test15%
- Critical AnalysisWritten30%
- Analytical ExerciseExercise15%
- EssayWritten40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Demonstrate familiarity with recent advances in artificial intelligence, and describe their potential impacts on society
- 2
Demonstrate understanding of major ethical concepts linked to various uses of artificial intelligence, such as accountability, transparency, and 'algorithmic injustice'
- 3
Think critically about key ethical and policy issues raised by new and emerging digital technologies
- 4
Make informed judgements about these ethical and policy issues.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages students in actively applying their knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ATS2292 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Julian Koplin
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Julian Koplin
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2292?
ATS2292 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2292 offered?
In 2026, ATS2292 runs in Semester 1 at Caulfield and Clayton.
How much work is ATS2292?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2292 have an exam?
No. ATS2292 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2292?
ATS2292 is part of Bioethics and Philosophy.