Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - CMNS 313 OLO1

Topics in Data and Society (4)

Understanding AI

Class Number: 6822

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

  • Prerequisites:

    17 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 45 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Topics in the social, political, and cultural aspects of data and datafication. Explores social and philosophical implications of gathering, interpreting, and managing data. Topics include: data protection, visualization or sonification, data activism, big data, algorithmic bias and decision making, AI harms, big data, and the political economy of data. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topics are different (up to a maximum of three times).

COURSE DETAILS:

Topic for Spring 2026:  Understanding AI

Artificial intelligence is everywhere — in the tools we use, the stories we tell, and the decisions that shape our world. But what is AI? How does it work, where did it come from, and what does it mean for the future of human life and labour? In this online course, we will explore AI from multiple perspectives — historical, technical, social, and practical — to build a grounded and critical understanding of one of the most transformative technologies of our time.

Part One: What is AI? introduces students to artificial intelligence from both a historical and technical perspective. We will learn how and why AI developed historically and why it works the way it does today.  Part Two: AI and Society examines how AI is being introduced across our society — from art and media to policing, healthcare, and education — and the ethical, political, and cultural consequences and challenges that have emerged in tandem. Students will have opportunities to engage with the significant and existential questions about personal and collective life that the proliferation of AI has raised. Part Three: AI and the Future of Work brings insight from real-world industry and labour contexts, exploring how organizations, workers, and unions are navigating automation and change. How are corporate leaders approaching AI implementation? How are labour unions bargaining around AI and worker protections? How can students think about and prepare for life and work after university as AI proliferates? Part Four: Using AI turns theory into practice: students will experiment with AI tools, evaluate their limits, and design a thoughtful use case for their own learning or creative work based on what they have learned. 

In addition to video lectures, interactive activities, online discussion boards, and applied projects, the course also includes synchronous online fireside chats between Professor Dick and AI experts and professionals, from Google to government, in order to provide students with opportunities to learn from multiple perspectives. This course invites you to think critically, historically, and imaginatively about what intelligence means — human and machine alike — in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

Grading

  • Weekly AI Activities & Reflections 40%
  • Final Project: Use Case Development 30%
  • Discussion Board Engagement 30%

NOTES:

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relationship to established university-wide practices. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 with regard to Student Discipline. For further information visit: www.sfu.ca/policies/Students/index.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Course readings will be made available as PDFs through the course CANVAS site.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.