Free Online Course from Edx on the impact of robotics on society

edX platform is offering a free online course on robots in the community, their positive effects and the ethical questions they raise. This course is a spin-off of the "Mind of the Universe" documentary series, created by the Dutch broadcasting company VPRO and professor Robbert Dijkgraaf, Princeton University. A number of universities in The Netherlands have used the open-source material of the documentary series as a starting point to create similar learning experiences.

Duration:

The course lasts for 5 weeks, 1-2 hours per week.

About This Course:

This course will discuss questions and dilemmas such as:

• will artificially intelligent robots replace humans in their work?
• will they have their own free will and - as some prophecy - have the power to take over the world?
• should we program robots to detect and respond to human emotions, and if so how?
• under what conditions can we use robots for military purposes?

This course will also touch upon the design principles that developers should adhere to, and critically reflect on issues such as robot autonomy, consciousness, and intelligence. This course will provide you with plenty of learning resources on this important topic including interviews with top experts in this field.

Learning Outcome:

Students will learn the following:

• Identify the ethical questions about artificially intelligent robots.
• Identify the various areas where the concern is in place.
• Reflect critically upon developments with regard to Artificially intelligent robots and the impact it has on society.
• Express a nuanced point of view towards the issue of Artificially intelligent robots in society.

Course Fees:

There are no fees for enrolling or studying the course, but there is a choice for the student to seek a verified certificate of completion of the course for $50, which is characterized by:

• Receive an instructor-signed certificate with the institution's logo to verify your achievement and increase your job prospects.
• Add the certificate to your CV or resume, or post it directly on LinkedIn.
• Give yourself an additional incentive to complete the course.
• EdX, a non-profit, relies on verified certificates to help fund free education for everyone globally.

About EdX:

EdX is an online learning destination and a massive open online course provider, it is founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2026. edX offers high-quality courses from the world’s best universities and institutions to learners everywhere. It is open to students from around the world, who are interested in different fields like computer science, languages, engineering, psychology, writing, electronics, biology or marketing. With more than 130 global partners, edX counts the world’s leading universities, nonprofits, and institutions as their partners to provide the best online courses on the Web.

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