INFO 498 · Cognitive and Behavioral Change in the AI Era | University of Washington - Instructor on Record

Course Description

Humans have been using tools that shape our cognition and behavior. Rapid advances in AI now amplify and accelerate those shifts. This course invites students to examine how AI influences individual and collective behavior, creativity, relationships, decision making, and cultural. Through guided reflection, hands-on practices, and in-class discussions, students develop their own perspectives on the opportunities and limitation of AI, build AI literacy, and prepare themselves for a professional world increasingly defined by ubiquitous AI technology.

Throughout the quarter, students document their personal interactions with AI as they adopt new tools, using self-observation, reflective surveys, and project-based exploration alongside traditional reading tasks.Throughout the quarter, students document personal interation with AI as they adopt new AI tools, using self-observation, reflective surveys, and project-based exploration alongside traditional reading assignments.

Learning Goals

Understand foundational AI concepts and their cognitive or behavioral implications on individuals and society.
Experiment and Reflect on the latest AI tools to build AI literacy and practical skills.
Analyze the ethical and social implications of AI on cognition and behavior.
Adapt AI workflows to personal interests and professional goals.
Cultivate supportive AI use habits for continuously co-evolving with AI advancements.

Course Modules and Timeline

Week 1 – AI and Me: Course kickoff covering AI foundations, meta-skills, and prompt engineering.
Week 2 – Final Project Proposal Workshop: Form teams, workshop proposals with instructor/TA, and complete sign-ups.
Week 3 – Meta-skills & Co-creation I: Build meta-skills in the age of AI and begin the co-creation with AI module; studio + fireside chat on AI & human alignment.
Week 4 – Co-creation II: Second co-creation with AI module; studio + fireside chat on AI and creativity.
Week 5 – AI for Science & Sense-making: Explore AI for sensemaking and scientific inquiry; studio + fireside guest session on AI for science.
Week 6 – Relationships & Emotion: Examine AI-supported relationships and companionship; mid-quarter review of final projects.
Week 7 – Future of Work: Investigate how AI reshapes jobs, skills, and workflows; studio + fireside chat on AI in the workplace.
Week 8 – Communication & Writing: Apply AI to writing and communication; studio + fireside chat on AI for communication.
Week 9 – Co-evolving with AI: Synthesize learning on human-AI co-evolution; capture course takeaways.
Week 10 – Final Presentations: Students deliver and showcase final projects.

Weekly Course Format and Structure

The course is structured into weekly modules, each focusing on different aspects of AI’s influence on cognition and behavior. Each week includes:

Tuesday Lecture & Seminar:
- Preparation: Complete assigned readings in advance.
- Activities: Submit a reading and material summary, engage in in-class discussions, and present topics on specific AI domains as a team.
- AI Topic/Application Presentation: One student group presents an AI application of interest and envisions its impact on themselves and society at large.
- AI Topic Summary: The instructor gives a short lecture on the topic of the week and prompts student reflections on the readings and class material.
Thursday Studio:
- Activities: Collaborative group sessions to engage with and critique AI technologies related to the week’s topic.
- Weekly Fireside Chat: Conversations with researchers and industry experts specializing in various AI domains followed by Q&A.

Assignments & Deliverables

Weekly Deliverables

The course is divided into several modules, each covering different topics. For each module, students are expected to:

Complete an assigned reading.
Post an individual reading response (2 pts).
Work in groups to submit a synthesis of the class topic (2 pts).
Complete an at-home activity to prepare for the studio (0.5 pt).
Submit two weekly journal entries (1.5 pt).
Complete an individual or group studio activity in class (2 pts).
Participate in occasional quizzes and in-class surveys for reflection and self-assessment (ungraded, intended to guide learning).

Total point opportunities: 56 (including participation surveys).

AI Topic/Application Presentation

In this assignment, student groups (2–5 members) collaboratively research and deliver a 15-minute presentation exploring a specific generative AI application topic and its societal impact. Students select an AI topic (such as AI-assisted writing or AI influencers), analyze current technologies, assess their market presence, strengths, and limitations, and demonstrate real-world use cases. The project also involves speculative thinking, where teams envision how the chosen AI technology might evolve and influence human behaviors, communication, and societal norms in the short and long term. Each presentation includes a live demonstration and a brief hands-on activity designed for peer engagement, facilitating critical reflection on the integration, benefits, and ethical implications of AI in everyday life.

Final Project

Students workshop final project ideas during the second week to identify their areas of interest. Individually or in teams, they then embark on an eight-week exploration of collaboration with AI. Projects focus on personally meaningful topics—such as creative writing, app design, marketing automation, or everyday productivity—and require students to reflect on how these interactions reshape their cognition and creative processes. Through project proposals, mid-quarter updates, and final presentations, students experiment, maintain reflective logs, and critically analyze AI’s impact on their work, ethics, and perceptions. Recent projects include an AI-generated short-video channel, a mental health support app, AI-driven marketing automation for small businesses, and a privacy-protection plugin for secure AI interactions, demonstrating deep engagement and thoughtful consideration of AI’s implications.