Integreted course (IC)
Objectives
At the end of the course, students will gain deeper knowledge of:
- the main theoretical paradigms for understanding the relationship between technology, mind, and behavior;
- the primary uses of digital technologies across different clinical populations, with specific reference to artificial agents and social robotics;
- intervention methodologies based on the use of emerging technologies such as assistive social robotics, chatbots, and personal digital assistants.
Programme
The aim of the course is to introduce the most recent innovations in artificial intelligence, digital health, and social robotics, showing how emerging interactive technologies can be applied across different areas of psychology and mental health. The course is divided into a theoretical and a practical component.
The theoretical component (8 lessons) examines the relationship between mind, individual, and technology through the lens of the latest perspectives in cognitive sciences. It will analyze the processes of interaction between humans and artificial agents, with particular attention to the role of anthropomorphization. The course will also explore the applications of various forms of artificial intelligence (e.g., chatbots, social robots) in mental health and education, concluding with a critical reflection on the ethical issues related to the use of artificial intelligence in clinical and health contexts.
The practical component (4 lessons) involves the design, development, and testing of an artificial agent for use in clinical settings. The goal is to provide an opportunity to become familiar with the more technical aspects of artificial intelligence programming, in order to illustrate both the limitations and the potential of these tools. No prior technical knowledge is required.
Exam
The exam requires the development of a project applying artificial intelligence in the field of mental health. The work must be carried out individually. The project should not exceed 5 pages (including images, graphics, and references) and must follow the structure below:
- Summary (max 150 words)
- What are the functional characteristics (cognitive, emotional, social, adaptive) of the target population? (max 250 words)
- What is currently known about the interventions available for the target population, and what are their limitations? (max 250 words)
- How can the application of AI help overcome the current limitations of the available interventions? (max 500 words)
- Briefly describe the characteristics of the proposed intervention or study (max 500 words)
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- Application context
- Method/mode of application
- Expected benefits/outcomes
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The project will be presented in PowerPoint format to the class and discussed as the final exam.
Further instructions on how to present the project will be provided during class.
Bibliography
Presentations, notes, and scientific articles provided by the professor.
The following readings are also recommended:
- Mitchell, M. (2022). L’intelligenza artificiale. Giulio Einaudi editore (ISBN 9788806253301)
- Natale, S. (2022). Macchine ingannevoli. Giulio Einaudi editore (ISBN 9788806254063
