Public Policy in the Age of AI

The use of artificial intelligence and data science in public policy settings is growing worldwide. Governments, firms, and non-governmental organizations are increasingly relying on data-driven tools to automate work, make processes more efficient, and help with decision making. Yet while these tools hold tremendous promise, their use also raises important questions about regulation, public infrastructure, energy use, surveillance, political manipulation, and the appropriate role of automated systems in public life.

This seminar offers an introduction to major contemporary issues at the intersection of data science, AI, and public policy. While it centers on data-driven models and AI systems, the course is not quantitative and does not require previous computational knowledge. It is meant to introduce students to a growing policy space that is becoming relevant across various domains, while teaching students how to interpret data and model outputs, assess what evidence can and cannot establish, identify uncertainty and competing policy considerations, and develop evidence-based recommendations.