Participatory AI for Social Impact

Overview

AI is rapidly proliferating across society, but negative impacts can arise when communities and stakeholders are not equally involved in the AI development process. In this course, you’ll learn to critically evaluate AI's societal impact and apply participatory design methods, preparing you to develop ethical and inclusive AI solutions for the future. "Participatory AI for Social Impact" introduces the core philosophy of designing with rather than for users and other stakeholders. Motivated by analyzing case studies where AI for social impact did not achieve the desired goals in the real world, you will learn to identify participatory AI practices and principles and create your own participatory AI plan. We will also discuss the logistical and ethical nuances of implementing participatory AI for social impact, including working with communities. This course will provide a practical toolkit for developing ethical, inclusive AI solutions that prioritize collaboration and positive social impact. This is the third 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.

Syllabus

What is Participatory AI ?

This module illustrates the motivation behind Participatory AI (PAI) by discussing the benefits of inclusive community involvement through real-world case studies. You’ll apply these insights by analyzing interactive scenarios to reflect on how PAI prevents harm and fosters positive social impact.

Module 2: How to Apply PAI for Social Impact

This module synthesizes Participatory AI (PAI) principles from key academic surveys and successful case studies, guiding learners to analyze how these principles drive real-world success. Through scenario-based planning, learners will apply these frameworks to their own projects by identifying relevant communities, designing engagement strategies (such as relationship-building and compensation), and developing concrete plans to mitigate potential challenges.