Linux Foundation Training Announces a Free Online Course- Ethics in AI and Big Data

Artificial Intelligence (AI) today is a reality, and Big Data is its fuel. There is no AI without Big Data. And there is no Big Data without people, generating it every single minute of every single day. As the existence of humans and machines are starting to merge, it is imperative to consider how to create ethical business frameworks for responsible AI development. 

SAN FRANCISCO, February 11, 2020 – The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, today announced the availability of a new, free course – Ethics in AI and Big Data. This course is offered through edX, the trusted platform for learning.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us; the physical, digital, and biological worlds are being fused in a way that has a tremendous impact on our global culture and economy. It is no secret that people, machines, data, and processes are increasingly connected in today’s world. While technological advancements like AI bring along promises and opportunities, they also raise concerns about security, user privacy, data misuse, and more. Trust is critical when it comes to AI adoption. People have a tendency to distrust artificial intelligence. It is the responsibility of business and data professionals to change that: add transparency, develop standards and share best practices to build trust, and drive AI adoption. A recent IBM study highlights that globally, 78% of respondents believe “it is very or critically important that they can trust that their AI’s output is fair, safe, and reliable.” 

Business and data professionals need AI frameworks and methods to achieve optimal results while also being good technology and business stewards. This course teaches learners why AI and Big Data ethics are so critical and how to apply ethical and legal frameworks to initiatives in the data and analytics profession. Learners will explore practical approaches to data, and analytics problems posed by work in AI, Big Data, and Data Science.

“As we enter into this new era of technology with artificial intelligence infused in so many products and services around us, it is imperative for those working on these cutting edge technologies to innovate within certain ethical and legal frameworks,” said Dr. Ibrahim Haddad, Executive Director, LF AI Foundation, “Ethics in AI and Big Data teaches the learner the key principles and steps needed to be responsible stewards as they lay the blueprint affecting how people and technology interact in the future.”

Commissioned by the LF AI Foundation, LFS112x is aimed toward a wide-ranging audience, walking the line between business and technology. Students can expect to learn about:

• Business drivers for AI, as well as business and societal dynamics at work in an AI world.
• Key principles for building responsible AI, and the initial steps to take when planning an AI framework.
• What ethics means and how to apply it to AI.
• Where to start, what considerations should inform the ethical framework, and what this framework should include.
• Pan-industry initiatives on ethical AI.
• Drivers for open source to support AI.
• Technical and non-technical implications of AI.

Ethics in AI and Big Data is available at no cost, with content access for up to 6 weeks. Learners may upgrade to the verified track for $199, which includes all graded assessments, unlimited access to the course content and the ability to earn a Verified Certificate upon passing the course.

About The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world’s top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and industry adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org.

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Media Contact:

Clyde Seepersad
The Linux Foundation
404-964-6973
cseepersad@linuxfoundation.org