ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HUMAN COMMUNICATION
Bi-Weekly Meeting Schedule
Class 1: INTRODUCTION Foundations of Algorithmic & Synthetic Communication
September 1, 2026
• Focus: Historical context of cybernetics, computational language, and modern generative models.
• Readings: • Turning, Alan, “COMPUTING MACHINERY AND INTELLIGENCE”, https://tinyurl.com/turing22
Class 2: Political Economy & the Infrastructure of AI
September 15, 2026
• Focus: Labor, environmental costs, and data extraction behind large-scale machine learning models.
• Readings: • Crawford, Atlas of AI (Excerpt) — Link: https://tinyurl.com/aiatlascrawford
• IBM What are LLMs – https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/large-language-models
Class 3: Bias, Power, and Machine Agency
September 29, 2026
• Focus: How do algorithms reinforce social hierarchies, language norms, and systemic exclusion? Are we all susceptible to algorithms?
• Readings:
• Crawford, Kate, NY Times, “Artifical Intelligence’s White Guy Problem” – Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/opinion/sunday/artificial-intelligences-white-guy-problem.html
• Benjamin, Race After Technology (Excerpt) — Link: https://www.morgan-klaus.com/readings/race-after-technology.html
- DUE: Proposal for Assignment 1 (Critical A.I. Solution)
Class 4: Language Models & Automated Discourse
October 20, 2026
• Focus: Critical AI workshop; analyzing LLM output, halluncinations, and synthetic intimacy.
• Readings:
• Turkle, Reclaiming Conversation (Excerpt) — Link: https://theparkforum.org/843-acres/reclaiming-conversation-srs/
• Chiang, ChatGPT Is a Blurry JPEG of the Web — Link: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/chatgpt-is-a-blurry-jpeg-of-the-web
ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE – October 27, 2026 – A.I. Model Paper
Class 5: Creative Subversion & “Vibe Coding Chrome Extensions
November 3, 2026
• Focus: Introduction to natural-language programming, prompt engineering as creative practice, and rapid prototyping.
• Readings/Lab: • “Vibe Coding for Students: Unlocking Your Creativity With AI”, Girls Who Code – Link: https://tinyurl.com/vibecodersgg
• Interactive lab session using web-based AI coding tools.
Class 6: Interface Design for Machine Intelligence & “Vibe Coding Part 2
November 17, 2026
• Focus: Create a Chrome Extension using vibe coding
• Readings: • Suchman, Human-Machine Reconfigurations (Excerpt) — Pages 35-42 – Link: https://memoof.me/read/1003/pdf
• Norman, Design of Everyday Things (Excerpt – Pages 114-119 “Some Models of Human Thought”
Link: https://tinyurl.com/normanchapter
• Interactive lab session using web-based AI coding tools.
Class 7: Prototyping Synthetic Futures in Figma
December 1, 2026
• Focus: App architecture, UI/UX workflows for non-deterministic interfaces, and Figma AI features.
• Lab: Reviewing interactive wireframes, component design, and user flows.
Session 9: Final Project Showcase & Critique
• Focus: Work on Figma prototypes, live demonstrations, and critique
Class 8: Final Project Showcase & Critique
December 15, 2026
Presentations and Demos
Course Wrap-up on Dec 15)
