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There are 5 modules in this course
Unravel the mysteries behind the accelerating pace of technological change, exploring mathematical principles and historical precedents behind AI and large learning models (LLM). Gain insights into the dichotomy of continuous innovation versus disruptive breakthroughs, and evaluate their profound impact on industries and economies worldwide. Investigate the societal implications of technological diffusion, analyzing inequalities and proposing viable policy solutions. Navigate the complex terrain of ethical considerations in technological advancement, addressing issues of bias, inclusivity, and AI alignment. Delve into the ethical frameworks guiding innovation, while contemplating the future of human-machine collaboration and the ethical imperatives therein.
After this module, you will be able to review how the social construction of technology requires proactive change management and be able to define what technology is and learn how this organismic system evolves. You'll be able to analyze the historical evolution of technology and its impact on society from the Stone Age to the digital age and develop a working definition of technology that allows you to understand its different aspects and roles in society. You'll also be able to discover why ‘things are getting faster and faster’, by exploring the mathematical logic behind the unavoidable accelerating nature of technological change.
Digital Strategies: How to Manage Digital Change? - Part 1•6 minutes
Digital Strategies: How to Manage Digital Change? - Part 2•6 minutes
Technological Change: What Tech Is and How It Evolves - Part 1•9 minutes
Technological Change: What Tech Is and How It Evolves - Part 2•5 minutes
Technological Change: What Tech Is and How It Evolves - Part 3•5 minutes
Why Does Technological Change Accelerate? - Part 1•7 minutes
Why Does Technological Change Accelerate? - Part 2•10 minutes
Why Does Technological Change Accelerate? - Part 3•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 1 minute
Course Navigation and Safety Statement•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 60 minutes
Module 1 Assignment•60 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Learning Goals•10 minutes
Module 1 Discussion•10 minutes
Evolution of Technology
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
After this module, you will be able to analyze the nature of technological evolution, identifying key patterns and contours in its progression. You will be able to differentiate between continuous and disruptive innovation, recognizing their impact on the technological landscape, as well as evaluate the impact of disruptive innovations using examples from various industries. You'll be able to review the implications of Moore's Law on computational technology as an example of continuous innovation and recognize how exponential technological progress can help us to navigate an uncertain future even if we cannot make specific predictions about what will be. You'll also be able to speculate about the technological singularity, the moment when progress will become too fast for human understanding and be able to explore what past technological revolutions taught us about the question if machines will replace us and envision what the future might hold.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 51 minutes
Module 2 Introduction•1 minute
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 1•10 minutes
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 2•9 minutes
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 3•9 minutes
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 4•7 minutes
Will Technological Progress Overtake Us? - Part 1•7 minutes
Will Technological Progress Overtake Us? - Part 2•9 minutes
1 assignment•Total 60 minutes
Module 2 Assignment•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Module 2 Discussion•10 minutes
Evolution of Social Systems
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
After this module, you will be able to proactively manage digital change and analyze the co-evolution of technology and society, exploring their reciprocal influence over time. You will be able to evaluate the impact of technological diffusion on social systems and propose policy solutions to address resulting inequalities. You'll be able to examine the interdependent relationship between human society and technological advancements, as well as explore the emergent construction of human progress through the infinite number of evolving waves building on top of each other, from product cycles on the micro-level, to technological revolutions on the macro-level. You'll be able to assess the theories of economists like Kondratiev and Schumpeter on long waves of societal development and technological innovation and be able to identify and discuss the crucial role of financial bubbles and governmental regulation in the adoption of technological revolutions in the economy.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 66 minutes
Module 3 Introduction•1 minute
Digital Strategies: How to Manage Digital Change?•4 minutes
Technological Change: What Tech Is and How It Evolves - Part 1•6 minutes
Technological Change: What Tech Is and How It Evolves - Part 2•11 minutes
Technological Change: What Tech Is and How It Evolves - Part 3•6 minutes
What Does Technology Change Accelerate? - Part 1•16 minutes
What Does Technology Change Accelerate? - Part 2•7 minutes
What Does Technology Change Accelerate? - Part 3•15 minutes
1 assignment•Total 60 minutes
Module 3 Assignment•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Module 3 Discussion•10 minutes
Diffusion of Technology
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
After this module, you will be able to examine why and how every technological innovation inevitably creates a new kind of inequality in society and discover Rogers model on the diffusion of innovations and about the importance of being an early adopter. You'll be able to compare and contrast the trade-off between progress and diffusion, considering standardization and societal adoption challenges, as well as analyze how innovations spread through social networks, and explain how social network structure influences innovation diffusion, including the role of connectivity and influencers. You'll be able to analyze social interventions and regulations shaping innovation diffusion, like vaccination campaigns and financial regulations and explain the digital divide's concept and inevitability within social network diffusion. You will be able to analyze the multidimensional aspects of the digital divide and develop strategies to address it and evaluate technological progress's impact on the digital divide, considering access and utilization efficiency.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 75 minutes
Module 4 Introduction•1 minute
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 1•3 minutes
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 2•15 minutes
How Does Technology Evolve? - Part 3•6 minutes
Introduction to What is the Digital Divide & Why Does It Matter?•6 minutes
What is the Digital Divide & Why Does It Matter? - Part 1•13 minutes
What is the Digital Divide & Why Does It Matter? - Part 2•13 minutes
What is the Digital Divide & Why Does It Matter? - Part 3•11 minutes
What is the Digital Divide & Why Does It Matter? - Part 4•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 120 minutes
Module 4 Assignment•120 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Module 4 Discussion•10 minutes
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ethics, & Policies
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
After this module, you will be able to discuss the crucial importance of social guidance in the social construction of any technology and manage technological change in companies and government. You will be able to analyze socio-technological constructs and policies from public and private sectors, as well as examine the AI alignment problem, its definition, challenges, and its importance for human development. You'll be able to recognize traditional ethical frameworks' role in AI alignment, addressing biases and promoting inclusivity and evaluate ethical implications of unintended consequences in AI alignment. You'll be able to recognize the necessity of defining clear objectives for AI systems to mitigate risks and be able to analyze the interplay between cultural values and AI development for addressing diverse ethical perspectives.
What's included
15 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
15 videos•Total 121 minutes
Module 5 Introduction•2 minutes
Digital Policies & Strategies•6 minutes
AI Alignment: Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - Part 1•14 minutes
AI Alignment: Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - Part 2•8 minutes
AI Alignment: Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - Part 3•5 minutes
AI Alignment: Who Determines Our Future? - Part 1•8 minutes
AI Alignment: Who Determines Our Future? - Part 2•8 minutes
AI Alignment: Who Determines Our Future? - Part 3•5 minutes
Introduction to What to Consider When Building Digital Strategies/Policies?•5 minutes
What to Consider When Building Digital Strategies/Policies - Part 1•5 minutes
What to Consider When Building Digital Strategies/Policies - Part 2•11 minutes
What to Consider When Building Digital Strategies/Policies - Part 3•11 minutes
Unfinished Globalization in the Digital Age - Part 1•10 minutes
Unfinished Globalization in the Digital Age - Part 2•10 minutes
Unfinished Globalization in the Digital Age - Part 3•12 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 5 Assignment•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Module 5 Discussion•10 minutes
Self-Reflection•10 minutes
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.