CS886 (Topics in AI) - Trust and Online Social Networks - Prof. Robin Cohen
Fall 2018 - Time and location: Mondays 830-1020am DC2568

In this course, we will examine the context of online social networks
from the perspective of artificial intelligence, including an exploration
of the subfield of trust modeling in multiagent systems and its
application to social networking environments.

Background in artificial intelligence is beneficial but not essential.
In an early lecture, a brief introduction to AI will be provided.

Students will be exposed to a variety of current research in a
very topical area of study. They will have the opportunity to gain
skill in oral communication (through detailed feedback provided on
their class presentations) and in concisely conveying detailed academic work.
Students will also learn important analytic skills, executed in a limited
timeframe, through the group exercise.

Workload and Logistics

The class size will be limited to 15.
Each student in the class will be required to complete:
a) a 15 minute oral presentation of a research paper from a predetermined list,
once for the topic of Trust and once for the topic of Social Networks
b) a one-page point-form summary of the above research paper to be
distributed as a handout to the class, for each of the presentations in a)
c) a 10 minute oral presentation of the student's final research project
d) a final research project (student's choice), relevant to the course topic
e) a group-oriented in-class exercise (with an individual component)

The final grade will be computed as follows:
- each presentation and handout 10 marks each (40 marks)
- final project presentation 10 marks
- group exercise 10 marks
- final project 40 marks (due December 4 at 11am)

Schedule (Tentative First Draft)

Sep 10  Intro to course 
Sep 17 Intro to AI; Intro to user modeling, trust modeling
Sep 25 First Half Presentations (5)
Oct 1 First Half Presentations (5)
Oct 8 Thanksgiving
Oct 15  First Half Presentations (5)
Oct 22  Intro to social networking; Guest speaker
Oct 29 Second Half Presentations (5)
Nov 5 Second Half Presentations (5)
Nov 12 Second Half Presentations (5)
Nov 19 In-Class Group Exercise (3 hour class)
Nov 26 Project Presentations (10)
Dec 3 Project Presentations (5); Wrap up of course

Contact: rcohen@uwaterloo.ca