Are you curious about AI’s impact on elections and power structures? Can AI help us develop public policies that improve people’s lives? Do you think judges should use AI to make better decisions? Have you thought about using your skills to protect people’s online privacy, help workers adapt to AI-driven jobs, or even prevent wars? If you love learning about technology—and you want to make a difference for communities around the world—this unique major lets you take a big-picture approach to the policy issues that affect our lives.
As an AI and Policy Analysis student, you’ll learn how AI tools can be built by society, for society, to solve problems with elections, policies and governance. You’ll start by taking classes about AI and ethics, how technology disrupts society, and how AI is changing economics and other fields. You’ll benefit from a few technology classes to get familiar with basic statistics and computational skills. Then, you’ll build on this knowledge with in-depth classes on democracy and comparative political systems—and choose from electives in topics like surveillance, the media, presidential campaigns and judicial power. Finally, you’ll have a capstone course where you can bring together everything you’ve learned to look for solutions to real-world problems.
Policy happens outside the classroom walls, which is why we encourage students to get involved and take advantage of all the opportunities at UB—and beyond.
Internships, research and experiential learning. Work for an elected official, help an AI-driven nonprofit or conduct research alongside your favorite professors. At UB, you’ll also find on-campus computing events and other ways to practice your skills, meet people and grow your network.
Study abroad. Get a firsthand look at the impact of policy and AI in Europe, Asia or nearly anywhere in the world thanks to UB’s extensive study abroad programs.
Student groups and events. Want to make friends? Check out UB’s 500-plus clubs, speaker series and so much more to do, all right on campus.
For starters, consider the different types of organizations that hire people with expertise in AI and policy, including (but certainly not limited to):
Then, think about all the ways you can apply your skills:
Of course, you might also decide to go to law school or business school—or get an advanced degree in AI, political science or global affairs.
Experts in judicial politics and voting. World-class researchers in computer science theory. Award-winning teachers and mentors. At UB, our faculty stand apart, both in and out of the classroom.
Professors for this program typically come from the political science and computer science departments. In political science, they conduct research about political messaging and propaganda, interstate conflict, legal developments, business and politics, and other highly relevant topics. They’ve written acclaimed books and published their work in the “American Journal of Political Science,” “Journal of Legal Analysis,” “British Journal of Political Science,” SCOTUSBlog and other influential outlets. Our computer science faculty are also highly accomplished—and have connections to some of the top AI companies in the world. They’ve helped edit leading journals, are Fellows in the top professional societies, and help run UB’s AI-focused institutes and centers.
As you’d expect, UB faculty are also widely recognized for their teaching skills. They’ve earned the student-nominated Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Award, the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the UB Teaching Innovation Award, among other honors.