AI Ecologies Course Launching Spring 2026

A new cross-disciplinary course titled CDS222: All Ecologies is set to launch in Spring 2026 at Stony Brook University, providing an in-depth examination of artificial intelligence (AI) and its multifaceted role in contemporary society. This innovative course aims to cater to students from diverse backgrounds and levels of knowledge without requiring any prior understanding of AI. The curriculum is designed to engage students while aligning with the expectations of a 200-level course.

As stated by Joseph Lemelin, an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Department of Philosophy and the course’s primary instructor, “AI is changing nearly every aspect of our lives — it affects how everyday actions are surveilled, the media we see, what kinds of jobs will exist, how resources are distributed, and even our sense of what it means to be a human being.” Lemelin emphasizes that the course seeks to raise urgent questions about AI and its pressing role in our lives, marking it as both timely and significant.

While Lemelin spearheads the course, students will benefit from the expertise of various professors across Stony Brook University, as each week features a different guest lecturer with a unique focus on AI. The course structure aims to introduce multiple pathways for the study of AI, capturing a holistic view that spans both humanities and social sciences, alongside practical coding experience.

The course design has been made possible through a seed grant from SBU’s AI Innovation Institute (AI3), with classes held on Mondays and Wednesdays devoted to lectures encompassing core concepts and specialized knowledge. On Fridays, students will participate in coding sessions, providing hands-on experience in AI application.

Guest lecturers will include notable figures such as Aruna Balasubramanian from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Katherine Johnston from CAS, Matthew Salzano of the School of Communication and Journalism, and several others contributing from diverse disciplines like history, art, and psychology.

As Salzano describes the course, “If you’re finding yourself intrigued and/or bewildered by AI—whether you aren’t sure what that term really refers to, or you don’t understand how it actually works technically, or you can’t keep up with the daily headlines of its impacts on society and culture—then CDS222 is the class for you.” He highlights that this course serves as a hub for various approaches to studying AI across the campus, illuminating both its technical and philosophical dimensions.

CDS222 is now open for registration and fulfills two important Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) requirements: “CER Practice & Respect Critical/Ethical Reasoning” and “TECH Understand Technology.” This initiative appears to be a crucial stepping stone in accommodating the rising necessity for understanding AI’s multifarious implications in today’s world.