This course demystifies AI, tracing its history and development to understand where the technology stands today and how it actually works. It examines the decisions shaping AI's direction, the governance structures that regulate its use, and the growing pushback against AI's expanding dominance across industries and society.

The course addresses the ethical challenges embedded in machine learning and AI development, from bias and accountability to the broader consequences of how these systems are built and trained. Guidance is provided on ethical AI use across personal and professional life, with a focus on developing lasting principles that will remain relevant as the technology continues to evolve.

The course also explores AI's growing impact on media and information, addressing the deepening crisis of AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation, and equipping learners to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.

By the end of this course, learners will have a grounded understanding of AI's capabilities, governance, and ethical dimensions, enabling confident and principled engagement with AI tools and technologies in a rapidly changing environment.