Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how the world addresses some of its toughest challenges. In this course, "Defining AI for Social Impact", you’ll learn how AI is being applied in unique ways, from protecting endangered wildlife across the globe to expanding healthcare access in communities with limited resources. Through real-world case studies and faculty-led videos, you’ll gain a personal understanding of how AI can create positive social impact when applied thoughtfully and responsibly.

You’ll explore both the potential and limitations of AI, learning to recognize the algorithmic, practical, and ethical considerations that ideally guide its use. This course goes beyond theory by connecting abstract ideas to concrete examples of existing AI projects in society. By the end, you’ll understand how AI works in practice and consider how to leverage it to create a more just and moral future. This is the first course in the three-course series, "Realizing AI for Social Impact", where you will explore use cases and frameworks for deploying AI to achieve social impact.