AI & Ethics   

This self-paced course is designed to help you explore how artificial intelligence is quickly reshaping accounting and finance functions. You'll learn to distinguish between different types of AI and understand how they're being applied in areas like forecasting, operations management, financial analysis, and more. The course’s 6 modules take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete.

In Module 1, you’ll review foundational AI concepts and key terms frequently used by accounting and finance professionals. You’ll also explore the spectrum of AI capabilities, including narrow, general, and super intelligence, and what each means for your current and future work. You’ll also examine the difference between responsible and ethical AI use, understanding how each framework shapes trustworthy and fair AI implementation in financial decision-making.

Module 2 will demystify how machine learning (ML) works and how it intersects with everyday accounting and finance practices.

Module 3 focuses on automation tools and how they are transforming accounting operations. You’ll take a look at how rule-based bots and examine where bots can bring value to accounting workflows, from invoice processing to reconciliations. You will also assess the operational and ethical risks introduced by unattended automation, including the risk of errors and accountability gaps.

In Module 4, you’ll learn practical strategies for using large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT in accounting and finance roles. Key risks such as hallucination, data leakage, and misuse of proprietary content will be addressed.

What about the evolving role of AI agents that perform multi-step tasks with limited human input? Module 5 introduces you to how agents differ from single-task bots or models and the new capabilities they bring to accounting and finance work – and why human oversight remains critical for complex or high-stakes decisions.

Finally, Module 6 guides you through creating a practical toolkit and a personal action memo that will help you carry forward both the technical knowledge and the ethical mindset you've developed.

For journalists, advertisers, publicists, and media creators, understanding AI will be key to operating in the rapidly changing media environment. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing knowledge production industries, especially media industries. The efficient production of written and visual content, along with the possibility of strategic insights derived from large language models, stands to radically transform how media is produced and consumed.

However, simply understanding the tools is not enough – it’s important to develop an ethical framework for how to best deploy AI given the potential pitfalls for both consumers and creators.

In this self-paced course, you will explore the transformative potential of generative AI for media industries, along with its ethical threats to the human users of these technologies. You will develop an ethical framework for evaluating these technologies, and apply this framework in specific media contexts, including journalism, advertising, public relations, and media production.

The course takes approximately two to three hours to complete. You’ll learn to:

• Demystify how GenAI works.
• Understand how AI tools like ChatGPT actually work.
• Strengthen ethical judgment and develop an ethical framework.
• Learn to identify risks such as bias, copyright, and misuse before they cause harm.
• Apply AI responsibly
• Practice using the ethical framework to evaluate new tools and ensure they align with professional standards.
• Improve workflow efficiency by understanding where automation and AI add value without replacing human professionals.