Grand Challenges partnership projects

“stay curious, collaborative, and committed to change”

AI Ethics set out to raise awareness and ensure the ongoing dialogue around the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, embedding the concept further in taught courses. The aim is to help students understand the impact of AI not just during their time at UCL, but as tomorrow’s responsible innovators.  

The inspiration began with an examination of the social and political factors outside the university that are increasingly influencing the student experience, as AI becomes more ubiquitous. A key moment came when the team attended a major speech by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at UCL East on 13th January 2025, where he outlined a new plan for AI to boost economic growth, improve living standards, and revolutionise public services. The national context, combined with ongoing conversations with staff, Student-Staff Consultative Committees (SSCC), and insights from student surveys, revealed a strong need for more interdisciplinary learning approaches that go beyond the technical aspects of AI. The team aimed to highlight how algorithmic bias can impact students’ educational experience. Beyond AI use in classroom settings, they wanted to explore how the algorithmic bias can shape the learning journey particularly for marginalised communities by reinforcing existing social inequalities.