Connectionists: Join the new online AIDA short course "Ethics and AI", 2 April - 21 May 2025, Italian Society for Ethics of AI

[Efi]

Dear student, scientist, engineer, professional,  AI enthusiast,



The Italian Society for Ethics of AI (www.sipeia.it) together with AIDA
(Prof. Ioannis Pitas) is organizing the 2025 edition of the online PhD
course on “Ethics and AI” <https://sipeia.it/?page_id=204&lang=en>
in English language offered to several PhD programmes.



*Abstract*:

This interdisciplinary course co-organized with AIDA
<https://www.i-aida.org/course/ethics-and-ai/>intends to provide a brief
overview of the main ethical issues concerning AI from an interdisciplinary
perspective. The starting point is the clarification of what an “ethics”
is, so as to offer the reference coordinates of the discourse, which is
then articulated in the analyzes by way of examples of specific issues in
the different directions. In particular, issues relating to the impact that
AI has and will increasingly have on social life are examined, especially
concerning the problem of biases and of generative AI; the interconnections
with medicine and health care; the methods of legal regulation, such as the
AI Act of the EU. It will discuss also AI’s impact on defense, warfare, and
geopolitics.

*Teachers*:

Maurizio Mori, Consulta di Bioetica Onlus

Tiziana Catarci, DIAG, Università la Sapienza Roma

Giovanni Sartor, CIRSFID, Università di Bologna

Guido Boella, Dipartimento di Informatica, Università di Torino

*Ioannis Pitas <https://sipeia.it/?p=794>*, Chair of the International AI
Doctoral Academy (AIDA <https://www.i-aida.org/course/ethics-and-ai/>)

*Intended Audience:*

PhD students at various stages of their programs, as well as any interested
scholars and members of the general public.

*Programme*:

4 hours: – Maurizio Mori: Two hours dedicated to outlining a theory of
ethics capable of addressing moral analyses of human societies and larger
communities. The remaining two hours apply these conceptual tools to
analyze the potential interactions between AI and health care. 2
hours – Tiziana Catarci: Biases in AI4 hours – Guido Boella: A
comprehensive overview of the various ethical issues related to AI, with
reflections on its societal and ethical impact.4 hours – Giovanni Sartor: A
session reflecting on the relationship between AI applications and human
rights, discussing implications for data protection and consumer
protection, and examining the EU’s AI Act.1 hours – Guido Boella: Ethical
aspects of LLMs (Large Language Models).1 hour – Ioannis Pitas: AI, War and
Geopolitics <https://sipeia.it/?p=798>. This lecture explores AI’s impact
on defense, warfare, and geopolitics. Global military spending surpassed $2
trillion in 2022, with AI driving the arms race. Lethal Autonomous Weapons
(LAWs), like drones, raise ethical and security concerns, while AI-powered
cyberwarfare poses severe risks. Geopolitically, the EU remains weak, and
the U.S. faces decline, partly due to underestimating China’s AI rise. As
global power shifts toward autocratic regimes, democratic nations must
collaborate to defend democracy and secure technological leadership.

*Schedule*:

2  April 2025, Wed 11:00 – 13:00 CET Guido Boella9  April 2025, Wed 14:00 –
16:00 CET Tiziana Catarci16 April 2025, Wed 14:00 – 16:00 CET Giovanni
Sartor23 April 2025, Wed 14:00 – 16:00 CET Giovanni Sartor30 April 2025,
Wed 14:00 – 16:00 CET Maurizio Mori7  May 2025, Wed 14:00 – 16:00 CET
Maurizio Mori14 May 2025, Wed 11:00 – 13:00 CET Guido Boella14 May 2025,
Wed 12:00 – 13:00 CET Ioannis Pitas 21 May 2025, Wed 11:00 – 13:00 CET
Guido Boella

*Registration:*

To register for the course students please fill out this brief form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJAn0CKu1Zrtc7s98oOqTeO1ZJE31v8g5j4FitD_ed_4bpRA/viewform?usp=sharing>
.

*Course costs:*

For AIDA <https://www.i-aida.org/course/ethics-and-ai/> students: free. For
students enrolled outside Italy: free. For students in Italy who require a
certificate of attendance and/or exam: free for those who subscribe to
Italian Society for Ethics of AI SIpEIA
<https://sipeia.it/?page_id=355&lang=en>.

*Free *for non PhD students.

*Subscriptions to SIpEIA <https://sipeia.it/?page_id=355&lang=en> are
welcome in all cases to support our activities.*

If you are an AIDA Student already, please:
a) register with this form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJAn0CKu1Zrtc7s98oOqTeO1ZJE31v8g5j4FitD_ed_4bpRA/viewform?usp=sharing>
AND
b) also enroll in the same course in the AIDA system
<https://www.i-aida.org/course/ethics-and-ai/>
in order for this course to be
included on your AIDA Course Attendance Certificate.

If you are not an AIDA Student, follow only the instructions in step (a).
*AIDA Students should have been registered in the AIDA system already (they
are PhD students or PostDocs that belong only to the AIDA Members list).

*Modality*:

This online course is conducted entirely in English. Each session will be
broadcast live, recorded, and subsequently published on SIpEIA’s video
channel <https://www.youtube.com/@sipeia5193>. Registered users will
receive connection links, which will also be available on the
SIpEIA course website <https://sipeia.it/?page_id=204&lang=en>. Please note
that live attendance is mandatory for those wishing to take the exam—simply
watching the recordings will not suffice.

*Exam modality* (for those who wishing to take the exam):

Submit an article (approximately 5000 characters) in either English or
Italian on a topic addressing the ethical aspects or societal impact of AI,
drawing on your research experience. Your piece should be accessible to a
broad audience—including those without a technical background—and should
engage readers with thoughtful insights and clear language. Best
submissions will be featured in our Magazine Intelligenza Artificiale
<http://magia.news/>magia.news.

*Prerequisites:*

No prior technical or philosophical knowledge is required to attend the
course.

*Credits and Hours:*

16 hours of online lectures are offered, with the possibility to earn 1.5
credits (subject to the rules of each PhD programme).

For more information write to info at sipeia.it



Best regards

Efi Patmanidou

AIDA Support Committee Chair
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