NMDS
5352

A.I. Generated Deception & Manipulation

Schools of Public Engagement: Media

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Graduate Course
Degree Students
A.I. Generated Deception
Spring 2025
Taught By: Peter Asaro
Section: A

CRN: 15432

Credits: 3

This course will examine the ways in which AI is transforming media production and communications, along with its current and potential role in strategic misinformation, deception and manipulation. The course will cover classic work and emerging research on deception and manipulation. We will spend the first part of the semester examining how AI is being used to generate media, including the creation and use of deepfakes, and the role of AI in targeted marketing and surveillance capitalism more generally. The second half of the semester will examine why mis- and disinformation are successful, in terms of both cognitive biases and the socio-technical media infrastructure, as well as the potential for applying AI to increasingly sophisticated psychological micro-targeting, and large-scale media manipulation. This will include an examination of the socio-psychological dimensions of deception, coercion and manipulation among humans, and its potential automation and amplification with AI. Throughout the semester we will return to questions of how these technologies impact or advance social justice, economic and political equality, and what it means to engage with them through ethical practice.

Media Studies courses are open to all graduate students. Undergraduate Juniors and Seniors with permission from the instructor and BA/MA Media studies students should email mediastudiesadvising@newschool.edu for access.

College: Schools of Public Engagement (NS)

Department: Media (MED)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 18

Repeat Limit: N/A

Add/Drop Deadline: February 3, 2025 (Monday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 15, 2025 (Tuesday)

Seats Available: Yes

Status: Open*

* 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: 4:08pm EDT 11/2/2024

Meeting Info:
Days: Tuesday
Times: 4:00pm - 5:50pm
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 1/20/2025 - 5/6/2025