AI, Power and Politics: Who Controls the Future?

What is the course about?

This course takes a critical look at the global politics of artificial intelligence. We will explore who shapes the development and deployment of AI, how data and automation reinforce or challenge inequalities and what’s at stake for democracy, human rights and the future of work. Through case studies and debate, we will examine the geopolitics of data, governance and power in the age of AI.

What will we cover?

• Who controls AI? Key actors, interests and global power dynamics
• The geopolitics of data: surveillance, sovereignty and digital colonialism
• AI governance: regulation, ethics and accountability
• Global inequalities in access, influence and impact
• The role of automation in shaping economies and societies
• Debates on democracy, human rights and the future of political participation

By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Identify key players and interests in the global AI landscape
• Analyse how AI and data shape power relations and inequalities
• Reflect on the ethical and political challenges of AI governance
• Engage in informed debate about the future of democracy and rights in an AI-driven world
• Critically assess the impact of automation on societies and economies