Sharad Goel Photo

Sharad Goel

Appointment
Professor of Public Policy

Jeremy Weinstein Photo

Jeremy Weinstein

Appointment
Dean of Faculty, Harvard Kennedy School
Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy, HKS; Professor of Government, FAS

DPI-681

Generative artificial intelligence promises to reshape how we work, learn, and interact. This will be true for government as well: generative AI may simultaneously transform the way it solves public problems – and the very problems it aims to address. DPI-681 sits at the intersection of technology and policy: over the course of the semester, students will study both the technical foundations of generative AI and the policy questions it raises in domains including education, healthcare, media and information, and scientific innovation through a series of case studies and hands-on technical assignments. At the same time, students will critically examine some of the challenges associated with artificial intelligence, including labor displacement, data privacy, and existential risk. This interdisciplinary course will prepare students for capstone projects and professional experiences focused on technology policy and service delivery at all levels of government. Students should either enroll in DPI-681 or DPI-681M, the module-length version of this course. Prior programming experience is recommended to fully benefit from the course’s applied components.  In lieu of purchasing a textbook for this course, students will need to purchase API keys to complete assignments, which will cost approximately $20 over the course of the semester. Please do not let the costs deter you from enrolling: we will figure out alternate options for students who may need financial assistance.