Artificial intelligence is increasingly both a political object and a tool for political and social life. This course introduces students to the core concepts behind AI systems while examining their political, social, and institutional consequences. The course combines the politics of AI - how AI reshapes power, resources, governance, markets, elections, labor, infrastructure, and global competition - with AI for politics - how AI tools can be responsibly used in research, policy analysis, civic work, public administration, advocacy, journalism, and other social applications.Students will learn the basic intuitions behind machine learning, generative AI, large language models, training data, evaluation, bias, and uncertainty, without requiring advanced programming or computer science preparation. They will also analyze real-world applications and conflicts involving AI in public opinion, campaigns, bureaucracies, regulation, firms, data centers, geopolitics, and social-service delivery. By the end of the quarter, students will be able to explain core AI technologies, assess their political and social implications, evaluate opportunities and risks in applied settings, and design a project that uses or studies AI in relation to a concrete social or political challenge.
3-5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Artificial intelligence is increasingly both a political object and a tool for political and social life. This course introduces students to the core concepts behind AI systems while examining their political, social, and institutional consequences. The course combines the politics of AI - how AI reshapes power, resources, governance, markets, elections, labor, infrastructure, and global competition - with AI for politics - how AI tools can be responsibly used in research, policy analysis, civic work, public administration, advocacy, journalism, and other social applications.Students will learn the basic intuitions behind machine learning, generative AI, large language models, training data, evaluation, bias, and uncertainty, without requiring advanced programming or computer science preparation. They will also analyze real-world applications and conflicts involving AI in public opinion, campaigns, bureaucracies, regulation, firms, data centers, geopolitics, and social-service delivery. By the end of the quarter, students will be able to explain core AI technologies, assess their political and social implications, evaluate opportunities and risks in applied settings, and design a project that uses or studies AI in relation to a concrete social or political challenge.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.