LCOD
3009

Digital Currents: Training a Large-Language Model

Eugene Lang College Lib Arts: Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Degree Students
Digital Currents
Fall 2024
Taught By: Ben Kudler
Section: A

CRN: 17383

Credits: 1

Large-language models (LLMs) are the technology presently driving new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) such as the software products now generating images and human-language text. LLMs are produced, or “trained” in technical parlance, by scraping massive amounts of textual data and using software algorithms to process this data to produce models of human knowledge and speech. In this course, students will identify a large body of text, or “corpus”, will use the Python programming language to craft code that will build such a model, and will make a basic interface to allow users to engage with this model by generating human language. Digital Currents is a hands-on, project-oriented workshop on contemporary digital technology in the Code as a Liberal Art program. The course will meet for 12 hours over 4 weeks of the semester. Coursework will include reading popular journalism and trade press, as well as scholarship in media and science & technology studies to establish historical context and engagement with the ongoing debates and controversies. Students will be given practical, technical instruction, and will end the course having produced a final project using this technology. No prior coding experience is required but students are advised to first take LCOD 2000 and LCOD 2010, 2012, or 2013. This course is repeatable for credit.

College: Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)

Department: Liberal Arts (LIB)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Laboratory (B)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 15

Repeat Limit: N/A

Add/Drop Deadline: September 24, 2024 (Tuesday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: October 20, 2024 (Sunday)

Seats Available: No

Status: Closed*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 10:56am EST 11/21/2024

Meeting Info:
Days: Friday
Times: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Building: 6 East 16th Street
Room: 1200B
Date Range: 9/20/2024 - 9/27/2024
Days: Friday
Times: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Building: 6 East 16th Street
Room: 1200B
Date Range: 10/18/2024 - 10/25/2024