Ethics of Autonomous Vehicles: Engineering Decisions in AI

Autonomous vehicles are no longer a futuristic concept, but integrating them into society requires solving complex moral and engineering puzzles. How do we program a machine to make life-or-death decisions on the road? This text-based course introduces you to the foundational ethics of self-driving cars, preparing you to analyze algorithmic bias, safety standards, and moral dilemmas in artificial intelligence. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational ethical theories and how they apply to machine learning algorithms. - Analyze classic moral dilemmas, such as the trolley problem, and transition them into modern risk-distribution models. - Evaluate safety standards and risk management frameworks used in autonomous vehicle development. - Explore liability, legal responsibility, and the regulatory landscape for self-driving technology. - Identify algorithmic bias and address equity and accessibility in autonomous transit systems. You will begin with core ethical terminology and historical engineering case studies before exploring modern risk assessment models, legal frameworks, and real-world implementation challenges. Through structured written analyses and case studies, you will learn to evaluate autonomous systems from a socio-technical perspective. This course is designed for aspiring engineers, computer science students, and technology enthusiasts. No prior programming or engineering background is required. Start exploring the critical intersection of technology and morality today.