Global issues and artificial intelligence

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Software Engineering

Synopsis:

This course explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in addressing and shaping the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century. Students will critically analyse AI as both a powerful tool to help solve complex problems (such as resource optimization, arms proliferation and healthcare) and a source of new systemic risks involving ethics or geopolitical power shifts. Seminars help to improve on the knowledge in the form of discussions based on individual readings and resource interpretation.

Requirements:

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Administration of the Course, courses structure and objectives; Introduction and defining of Global Issues and AI

2. History of human specialisation and human-machine interaction (HMI); specialisation and markets, division of labour, incl. international one: from Taylorism to AI, AI-Driven Management and AI building AI, redefinition of term human capital

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) risks and limitations; State of AI (in the Enterprise - Deloittes survey, McKinsey Global Survey, IBM Data)

4. Creation and mitigation of other global issues by AI; case studies, examples

Present Group Projects: how can AI help with Global Issues

5. Human ageing and depopulation;

Affects of global aging and declining population on economic growth, living standards, and the shape of the world order.

6. Human Migration and Displacement;

Gain an understanding of why migration is considered such a dangerous issue by settled communities. The role of international organizations in managing refugee crises.

7. International Conflicts;

Understand conflict escalation and distinguish between international and non-international armed conflicts. Strategies for conflict resolution, negotiation and diplomacy.

8. Geopolitical Tension and (Nuclear) Arms Proliferation;

Reasons for Tensions and what leads to countries undergoing militarisation.

9. Human Rights and International Law Violations;

10. De-globalisation, Sovereign Debt and Economic Stagnation;

reasons for two waves of globalisation and deglobalisation of today, democracy and indebtment

11. Environmental Pollution, Degradation and Biodiversity Loss;

reasons for, impacts and mechanisms of pollution, degradation and loss

12. Food and Water Insecurity;

gaining an understanding of the extent of undernourishment and hunger globally

13. Human Health Issues and Pandemics;

reasons humans are more at risk than ever of a global pandemic, the role of healthcare infrastructure in responding to global health emergencies

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Course organisation, structure and objectives; introduction and definition of global problems and artificial intelligence

2. History of specialisation of human activity and human-machine interaction (HMI); specialisation and markets, division of labour (including international): from taylorism to artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence-based management and artificial intelligence creating artificial intelligence, redefinition of the term human capital

3. Risks and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI); state of AI (in the corporate sphere Deloitte survey, McKinsey global survey, IBM data)

4. Group project presentation: how AI can help with global problems

5. Group project presentation: how AI can help with global problems

6. Group project presentation: how AI can help with global problems

7. Group project presentation: how AI can help with global problems

8. Individual project presentation

9. Individual project presentation

10. Individual project presentation

11. Individual project presentation

12. Individual project presentation

13. Test

Study Objective:

Study materials:

Internet based readings and videos. Case studies.

Other resources, available to students for every topic.

The Routledge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and International Relations (Brasioli et al., 2025)

AI, Information, and Global Dynamics (Springer, 2026): Explores the impact of AI on geopolitical equilibria and the threat of totalitarian digitalization.

Note:

Information about the course and courseware are available at https://moodle-vyuka.cvut.cz/course/search.php?search=FITE-GIA

Further information:

https://moodle-vyuka.cvut.cz/course/search.php?search=FITE-GIA

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Bachelor Specialization Computer Engineering, 2021 (elective course)
• Bachelor Specialization, Information Security, 2021 (elective course)
• Bachelor Specialization, Software Engineering, 2021 (elective course)
• Master specialization Software Engineering, in English, 2021 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Security, in English, 2021 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Systems and Networks, in English, 2021 (elective course)
• Master specialization Design and Programming of Embedded Systems, in English, 2021 (elective course)
• Bachelor Specialization, Computer Science, 2021 (elective course)
• Bachelor Specialization, Computer Networks and Internet, 2021 (elective course)
• Bachelor Specialization Computer Systems and Virtualization, 2021 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Science, in English, 2021 (elective course)
• Study plan for Ukrainian refugees (elective course)
• Master Specialization Digital Business Engineering, 2023 (elective course)
• Bachelor Specialization, Computer Engineering, Version 2024 (elective course)
• Master Programme Informatics, unspecified Specialization, in English, 2021 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Science, in English, 2024 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Security, in English, 2026 (elective course)
• Master programme, for the phase of study without specialisation, ver. for 2026 and higher (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Systems and Networks, in English, 2026 (elective course)
• Master specialization Computer Science, in English, 2026 (elective course)
• Master specialization Programming Languages, in English, 2026 (elective course)