Creating the world we want with humane technology
How will you bring humane tech into what you build?
I’m going to ask you to do something very difficult, which is this: forget everything.
Pretend you haven’t spent hours craning your neck to find the latest fill in the blank on your phone. Whatever will feed the hungry ghost, always wanting more.
Pretend you haven’t been dismayed by the level of polarization in society, near and far, due in no small part to social media.
Pretend you aren’t worried about where we’re headed as a people, with powerful algorithms persuading us against the better angels of our nature.
This is the tall order I gave everyone attending our most recent Building Humane Technology meetup. To deliver this call for imagination in an imagined way, I give you this:
Step into the future with me — a future of our making.
Embody the spell of the imagined.
Pull from the highest parts of yourself.
Listen to your heart.
As you pull back the curtain and step into this imagined space, what is the future you want to see? Ask yourself:
What does this imagined future feel like?
What are the sights and sounds?
How are you interacting with your devices? With the world?
What blossoms in this technology-fueled garden?
First, a point of hope: aspects of this imagined future are already here. Listen to the first two minutes of this podcast to hear how Taiwan is tackling digital democracy.
Second, bring structure to your dreaming, as we did, using these questions from the first module of the Center for Humane Technology’s (CRT) course, Foundations in Humane Technology:
Imagine if technology… treated our attention and intentions as sacred rather than artificially directing our desires and extracting our attention
Imagine if technology… were more accountable to those affected by it rather than accountable to those who profit from it
Imagine if technology… helped us make wise choices rather than leaving us hopeless and helpless in the face of catastrophic news feeds
Imagine if technology…facilitated more resilient digital democracies rather than leaving us with the false choice of authoritarianism or chaos
Imagine if technology… enhanced our shared understanding, allowing deep collaboration on global challenges rather than distracting us, dividing us, and making us dysfunctional
Third, bring in CRT’s approach to humane technology :
Respects human nature: How can technology work in harmony with the vulnerabilities and biases with which all humans have evolved?
Minimizes harmful consequences: What economic forces affect products, and how can product teams help address and reduce harmful externalities?
Centers on values: How do the conditions of our lives shape our values? How might product development be informed by metrics but centered on values?
Creates shared understanding: How can technology engender the trust and understanding we need to solve complex problems together?
Supports fairness and justice: How can technology enable a more just world, and practically integrate voices of people who experience harm?
Helps people thrive: How can products help people act in alignment with their deeper intentions, rather than optimizing for engagement?
Fourth, consider where you can make the most impact. Inspired by Donella Meadow’s how to intervene in a system, CRT created this diagram, which we used as a guide:
A note on this diagram: if you want to effect the most change, move farther away from the fulcrum. At the farthest point, you would change the culture & paradigm you’re working with. Each of these leverage points are valid opportunities to make a difference; it’s simply valuable to know which levers you’re pulling.
Examples of paradigm shifts in science:
If you joined me on this exercise, what did you come up with? Share in the comments.
Looking for inspiration? Here’s where we landed last week, in our second ever Building Humane Technology meetup. We broke into discussion groups on each topic, and switching every 15-minutes to keep things moving, folks self-selected into each breakout group.
Who are we? We come from various professional backgrounds, including mental health, tech, law, nonprofits, healthcare, climate adaptation, cybersecurity, and product management. Essentially, any human interested in humane tech. Join us!
Based on the notes from each topic and an audio recording I ran all this through our AI, Storytell, and came up with the following:
Imagine if technology… Treated our attention and intentions as sacred rather than artificially directing our desires and extracting our attention
1. Respect for User Intentions
   - Technology would prioritize user intentions and provide clear, transparent options for users to indicate their preferences. For instance, users could easily opt out of unwanted content and indicate what they do want to see.
   - Platforms would distinguish clearly between real or native content and paid content, ensuring transparency.
2. Ethical Design
   - Design principles would include the "Campfire Rule," which means leaving users better than you found them. This would involve creating a culture of thoughtfulness rather than fast consumption.
   - There would be regulations against dark patterns, which are design tactics that trick users into taking actions they might not otherwise take.
3. User-Centric Metrics
- Metrics for success would shift from time spent on the platform to user well-being and satisfaction. This could include personalized prescriptions for tech use, such as time limits or options for them.
4. Transparency and Accountability
- Users would have full transparency regarding what data is collected about them and how it is used. They would know what they are signing up for and what the platform knows about their behavior.
Key Points:
Transparency of Intentions: Platforms should clearly communicate the intention behind every feature or notification, empowering users to make informed choices.
Design for Disconnection: Features that encourage mindful use of technology such as reminders for breaks, daily usage limits, and "do not disturb" modes.
Respecting User Choices: Customizable settings that allow users to control their interaction with the platform--opting out of notifications, personalized recommendations, or time-wasting algorithms.
Imagine if technology… were more accountable to those affected by it rather than accountable to those who profit from it
1. Stakeholder Accountability
   - Technology companies would be accountable to a broader range of stakeholders, including employees, users, bystanders, and the environment, not just investors.
   - There would be systems in place to estimate reparations to parties adversely affected by technology.
2. Transparency of Data Use
   - Users would have clear visibility into what data is being collected and how it is being used. This would include knowing what the platform can see of their behavior and what it knows about them.
3. Ethical Business Models
   - Business models would be optimized for accountability and liberty rather than profit alone. This could involve creating inclusive technology that understands the context of different users and their needs.
4. Regulation and Governance
   - There would be measured regulation to ensure that technology companies adhere to ethical standards. This could include clearer definitions of "must" and "must not" in terms of user data and behavior.
Key Points:
Feedback Loops: Incorporate real-time feedback mechanisms from users who can report issues and provide suggestions, with transparent follow-ups on actions taken.
Transparent Data Policies: Make all data policies and usage completely transparent, allowing users to see what data is collected and how it is used.
Community-Governed Platforms: Platforms where policy changes and development decisions are influenced by the user community, potentially through mechanisms like voting systems or user panels.
Ethical Audits: Regular audits by third-party entities focusing on ethical concerns, societal impact, and fairness, with publicly released results.
Imagine if technology… helped us make wise choices rather than leaving us hopeless and helpless in the face of catastrophic news feeds
1. Informed Decision-Making
   - Technology would make it easier for users to make the right choices by providing clear, transparent information about the consequences of their actions.
   - Platforms would engage users in thoughtful choice rather than impulsive or reactive sign-ups, balancing ease of information digestibility with depth of understanding.
2. AI Assistance
   - AI assistants would be aware of personal values and could help users opt in or opt out of certain content, effectively reading and evaluating the "fine print" for them.
3. Trial Periods and Return Policies
   - Better return policies for trial periods would be in place, allowing users to test products and services without long-term commitment.
4. Cultural Shift
   - There would be a cultural shift towards valuing human flourishing and happiness over mere consumption. This could involve creating a culture of thoughtfulness and consideration for the impact of content being shown.
Key Points:
Information Hierarchies: Prioritization of critical, accurate information over sensational content or clickbait in news feeds.
Educational Tools: Integrating features that provide contextual education and actionable insights on complex topics to help users understand and make decisions.
Digital Nudging: Employing 'nudging' tactics—subtle design choices aimed at guiding users towards healthier behaviors and better decision-making without restricting freedom of choice.
Transparency of Algorithms: Clear explanation of how algorithms influencing content curation and recommendations work, so users can understand and adjust their interaction accordingly.
Imagine if technology…facilitated more resilient digital democracies rather than leaving us with the false choice of authoritarianism or chaos
1. Digital Voting and Participation
   - Digital voting systems would be easy to use, verified, and linked to research and politician bios, making it easier for citizens to make informed choices.
   - Platforms would give governmental decision-makers direct access to public discourse and the topics that matter most, ensuring that every voice matters.
2. Combatting Misinformation
   - AI would be used to combat misinformation and propaganda, removing personal bias in voting and policies.
   - Fact-checking would be integrated into government business transparency, ensuring that citizens have access to accurate information.
3. Resilient Systems
   - Nations would be flexible, with borders constantly changing to adapt to new challenges. This would involve optimal decentralization to give power to the people.
   - There would be designated spaces of trust where users can verify the truth of claims and engage in meaningful discourse.
4. Humor and Empathy
   - Humor would be used to combat rumors and misinformation, as seen in Taiwan's approach where humorous videos clarify what is true.
   - Building empathy and understanding would be a priority, with tools designed to show motivations behind opinions and positions, reducing time pressure and fostering collaboration.
Key Points:
Civic Participation Platforms: Development of platforms that facilitate local and national civic engagement, offering tools for community organizing, petitioning, and direct communication with representatives.
Fight Disinformation: Real-time debunking of false information and conspiracy theories paired with humorous, engaging content to clarify what is true.
Transparency in Political Processes: Technologies that provide transparency in political processes, such as blockchain for vote tracking and open access to legislative discussions and decision-making processes.
Collaborative Problem Solving: Platforms that turn civic outrage into action by facilitating participative workshops and solution-oriented discussions.
Real-time user-centric and admin-centric dashboards that do the following:
Display user upcoming and previous voter data (just like a bank allows you to view your historical financial data safely and securely).
Include links to deep-dive info about each legislative activity taken or planned by representatives at the local, county, state, and federal level (enabling citizens not only to learn who represents them at each level, but to gain as much vetted, factual knowledge as they desire on issues). Â
Provide specific detail on how a user's taxes have been and will be spent.
Provide links to learn about activity occurring at the global level in collaboration with other nations, cities, regions, corporations, or other orgs.Â
With a capoeira-like blockchain-based system in place that enables flexible, adaptable intersectional access to all registered citizens (even those without access to an internet-enabled device), citizens can become increasingly proficient at making prudent life-affirming choices for the greater good.
Imagine if technology… enhanced our shared understanding, allowing deep collaboration on global challenges rather than distracting us, dividing us, and making us dysfunctional
1. Collaborative Tools  Â
- New collaborative tools would be developed to facilitate deep collaboration on global challenges. This could include platforms like Slack but designed for global use, with features that respect cultural nuances and boundaries.
2. Shared Understanding
   - Technology would help build a shared understanding by enforcing transparency and showing the motivations behind different opinions and positions.
   - Linguistic and value nuances would be auto-translatable, ensuring that people from different backgrounds can collaborate effectively.
3. Empathy and Respect
   - Building empathy would be a core value, with courses and tools designed to foster understanding and respectful boundaries.
   - Platforms would encourage users to step out of their comfort zones and engage with diverse perspectives, enhancing cultural understanding.
4. Global Challenges
   - Technology would be used to address global challenges like climate change, poverty, and conflicts by leveraging community insights and citizen data.
   - We would focus on the common good and the benefits of collaboration, with clear metrics for success that go beyond profit.
Key Points:
Collaborative Tools: Implementing tools that facilitate remote collaboration effectively, enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to work together seamlessly on shared goals.
Global Forum Features: Integrating multi-language support and cultural sensitivity features to foster better understanding and dialogue in international forums.
Such as news sites that show us the leanings of every news source
Resource Pooling: Technology that allows pooling of resources for large-scale initiatives against global challenges like climate change, hunger, and poverty.
Common Ground Initiatives: Platforms that actively seek to find and promote common ground in contentious issues, promoting mutual understanding and respect.