Rethinking AI Curricula: Ethics Must Play a Bigger Role, Says UvA Lecturer

Wildenburg points out that students are first taught technical skills like programming and mathematical theory, without being equipped to critically assess the assumptions behind these models. Ethics and societal impact, if addressed at all, often appear late in the program as isolated or theoretical side courses. As a result, students may graduate thinking the development of AI is a purely technical challenge, with ethical concerns left for others to solve.

 

He calls for a more balanced curriculum that integrates ethical reflection and social responsibility from the start. “Programming at Google shouldn’t be seen as the only valid outcome of an AI degree,” Wildenburg notes. “Policymaking, ethics, or legal work around AI deserve just as much respect.”

 

By shifting the framing of AI education, universities can help future professionals develop a broader sense of responsibility and ensure that society, not just industry, shapes how AI evolves.