The graduate portfolio program in Ethical AI is an interdisciplinary, socio-technical program for graduate students from all units across campus to anticipate and prepare for the complex interactions between AI-based technologies and society. Students will consider the ethical implications posed by AI-based technologies, as well as how innovation in AI is driven by societal forces. They will gain experience in building human-centered AI systems as well as expertise in the ethical and societal dimensions of information technology. Students will take four courses (at least two of them will be core Ethical AI courses) from at least two departments outside of their degree program. They will then complete a research capstone experience resulting in a report, paper, thesis, or dissertation within the area of Ethical AI, which may include developing, designing, deploying, analyzing, and/or exploring the ethical and societal dimensions of AI-based technologies.
This portfolio program is connected to both Good Systems, a UT Grand Challenge, and Texas Robotics. It is governed by faculty members from both initiatives and is most relevant for graduate students with hybrid socio-technical interests. At the time of degree certification, students who complete all requirements for the portfolio program, as verified and approved by the steering committee, will receive a degree notation indicating that they have completed a Graduate Portfolio Program in Ethical AI on their final transcript.