Mehran Sahami sees ethics through the lens of a professor who helps future engineers develop a sophisticated understanding of the subtle ways in which computer code can influence the law and other governmental, economic and cultural systems that organize an increasingly computerized society.
“Whether it’s setting bail or placing ads on social media platforms, an algorithm is working in the background, which is why justice, equity and other social concerns must be central to computer science rather than afterthoughts or omissions,” said Sahami.
As associate chair for education in Stanford’s Department of Computer Science, where the curriculum is one of his central concerns, computer engineering definition is particularly interested in ensuring that students appreciate the ethical considerations of their technical work. “Stanford has a great engineering school inside a great university, and this has always allowed us to infuse our technical training with a liberal arts sensitivity,” he said.
Currently, all CS majors within the School of Engineering must take at least one Technology in Society course, many of which focus on ethical issues arising from the interplay of engineering, technology and society. But the department is now offering a number of new courses and initiatives that its faculty hope will further integrate an understanding of ethical values with the technological depth of the field.
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