PHIL248-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

AI & I: Artificial Intelligence and the Good Life

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

Do you curate your algorithms - or do your algorithms curate you? As we all know, AI and other digital technologies are reshaping the way we go about our daily lives - they influence what news we see, the music we play and shows we stream, who we date, how we form and maintain friendships, and even how we learn. It can be daunting to know which of these increasingly pervasive technologies are good for us. How should we take advantage of the many opportunities that AI offers, while still doing everything we need to do to flourish as human beings? That’s our central question. As we wrestle with it, you will develop a toolbox of ethical insights and practical skills for mapping a wise path through the challenges AI presents.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should have gained:
1. An understanding of key concepts in ethics and AI.
2. An ability to apply philosophical concepts to real-world scenarios.
3. An ability to evaluate the ethical impact of evolving AI technologies on their personal and professional development, relationships, values and goals.
4. Critical thinking and analytical skills, including an ability to identify, explain, interpret and evaluate relevant arguments made by others, and the ability to use these skills to develop arguments about ethical issues in the personal and professional use of AI.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Engaged with the community

Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Any 15 points at 100 level in PHIL, or
COSC; or any 60 points at 100 level from the BA or BSc.

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 14:00 E16 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 16:00 - 17:00 A5 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 15:00 - 16:00 A6 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator

For further information see Humanities Head of Department

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $948.00

International fee $4,263.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All PHIL248 Occurrences

  • PHIL248-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026
  • PHIL248-26S1 (D) Semester One 2026 (Distance)