Do you really trust AI to understand your words and intentions? In this course, we will challenge the hype surrounding AI language processing and dive into what it truly gets right and wrong about language. You will learn not only about the staggering achievements of AI language models, but also about the limitations and biases that threaten their reliability. Through hands-on exercises and real-world case studies, you will explore how AI can struggle with understanding complex sentence structures, cultural nuances, and even basic language usage. You will also examine the ethical implications of relying on AI for language processing, including the potential for perpetuating existing biases and discrimination in society. This course will equip you with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving world of AI language technology. Prior experience with linguistics and/or artificial intelligence is encouraged but not required.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Do you really trust AI to understand your words and intentions? In this course, we will challenge the hype surrounding AI language processing and dive into what it truly gets right and wrong about language. You will learn not only about the staggering achievements of AI language models, but also about the limitations and biases that threaten their reliability. Through hands-on exercises and real-world case studies, you will explore how AI can struggle with understanding complex sentence structures, cultural nuances, and even basic language usage. You will also examine the ethical implications of relying on AI for language processing, including the potential for perpetuating existing biases and discrimination in society. This course will equip you with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving world of AI language technology. Prior experience with linguistics and/or artificial intelligence is encouraged but not required.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.