AI is everywhere, from virtual assistants to healthcare. This blog explores its ethical challenges and shows how an MSc in Artificial Intelligence can help you build responsible, future-ready solutions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is all around us, whether we like it or not. It suggests recommendations in the music and video streaming services we use. Its technology powers virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri. It advances healthcare diagnostics and self-driving cars. It even voices some of the adverts we’re served.
You only need to look at the news to see why so many people are concerned about AI. Deepfake videos are becoming more realistic and harder to detect, raising fears about misinformation and fake news. AI is being used to generate convincing scams, including voice cloning that mimics friends or family members to trick people into sending money.
In education and the arts, there are growing debates about AI-generated content replacing human creativity, from essays to artwork. These developments are sparking serious conversations about ethics, safety, and the future of work and information online.
With all this in mind, it often feels like we’re in the eye of an ethical storm.
AI is no longer a distant concept reserved for science fiction. It’s here, it’s evolving fast, and it's embedded in the fabric of society. But with this rapid innovation comes an even greater pressing need to consider its ethical challenges.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the ethical dimensions of AI. We’ll also look at how an Artificial Intelligence master’s degree will help you adopt new and emerging technologies ethically and responsibly.
Artificial intelligence is an umbrella term for the simulation of human intelligence by machines. This includes the ability of computer systems to perform tasks that typically require human cognition. Examples of these tasks include learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding.
This concept may seem abstract, but AI Programme Director Rameez Qureshi has written a clear explanation of how artificial intelligence differs from human intelligence.
AI can range from simple systems, like recommendation algorithms on streaming platforms, to complex models that drive autonomous vehicles. As AI systems become more capable and autonomous, the ethical questions surrounding their design and deployment grow more urgent.
One of the most hotly debated ethical issues in AI is algorithmic bias. Algorithms are built by humans, trained on data created by humans, and deployed in environments shaped by human institutions. As a result, they can, and often do, replicate existing societal biases.
For example, an AI system used in recruitment would be trained on historical hiring data that likely favours certain demographics. There’s a high risk it may continue that trend, discriminating against underrepresented candidates. The question then becomes: can we ever truly create a “neutral” algorithm? Or are we simply automating our prejudices in more opaque and less accountable ways?
Our MSc Artificial Intelligence course tackles issues like this head-on with a dedicated module on the topic: Ethical, Regulatory and Social Aspects for Fair AI. You’ll learn how to interrogate AI systems critically, assess their societal impacts, and build solutions that strive for fairness and equity.
As AI systems take on more decision-making roles, from determining credit scores to identifying criminal suspects, we must face another urgent question. Who should be held accountable when things go wrong? Is it the developer who created the model? The business that deployed it? The team in charge of its implementation?
While AI doesn't have consciousness or intent, its decisions can have serious consequences. If an autonomous vehicle causes an accident, should the blame lie with the software engineers, the vehicle manufacturer, or the car owner? These are not just theoretical musings. They are the legal and moral dilemmas we’re already grappling with today.
Our MSc programme equips you to navigate these complexities by integrating ethical and regulatory considerations throughout your learning. You'll engage with real-world case studies and apply ethical frameworks to emerging technologies.
By the end of your studies, you’ll have a robust understanding of what it takes to develop AI responsibly.
AI models thrive on data - lots of it. But as systems get better at predicting human behaviour, the line between convenience and surveillance becomes more blurred. Think smart assistants that know your schedule better than you do. Or social media feeds that predict what you want to see (and buy).
So, how do we balance technological progress with individual rights to privacy? And what regulations should be in place to ensure data is used responsibly, especially in sensitive sectors like healthcare and law enforcement?
Our MSc in AI helps you grapple with these questions by offering training in both the technical and social implications of data use. You’ll not only learn how to build AI systems, but also how to ensure those systems operate transparently and ethically.
While regulating artificial intelligence is vital, creating a ‘one size fits all’ ethical framework for it may well be impossible. What one culture sees as acceptable information to share may conflict with another’s values or legal standards. For example, attitudes toward surveillance differ dramatically between countries, as do definitions of fairness, autonomy, and freedom of expression.
Our Artificial Intelligence MSc course encourages you to approach AI not just as a technical challenge, but as a global one. With access to international research networks like the Turing University Network, you'll be introduced to global perspectives on AI ethics. This will prepare you to work across borders and cultures.
Whether you're into tech, public policy, or solving real-world problems, this course is for you. Our online MSc in Artificial Intelligence goes beyond technical skills. It equips you with the ethical and digital literacy needed to lead in today’s AI-driven world.
Through modules in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Applied AI, you'll gain practical skills that are in demand across industries. What sets this course apart is its focus on responsible innovation.
You’ll learn to explain complex ideas clearly, understand AI’s legal and cultural impacts, and apply your knowledge in fields like healthcare, finance, the public sector, and more.
And since our programme is 100% online, it’s designed to fit around your career and life.