Draft constitution for humane technologists

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Who am I and why did I create this?

I co-founded an AI startup to answer the question: How do you build AI with integrity? I’m still exploring the answer.

In my quest, I took the Foundations in Humane Technology course, after which I looked for a humane technology meetup in California’s Bay Area. Finding none, I created my own. Each month, we work through a different module from the course. Our most recent deep dive was on values: everything companies build operates according to the value system (and biases and blindspots) of its creators.

I consider myself a humane technologist and I am seeking to co-define the frameworks for this nascent movement. At present, I largely rely on resources from the Center for Humane Technology and All Tech is Human.

To create this draft constitution, I uploaded the slides from the values module into Storytell.ai and prompted, “Create a constitution for humane technologists based on the information in the slides.”

If this aligns with your beliefs, add a comment as your signature. Let the world know you care. Find one aspect of this constitution you can take action on. Start by starting.

Created by Dall-E. Note that all these hands have five fingers!

Draft Constitution for Humane Technologists

We, the community of humane technologists, recognize that technology is not and can never be neutral. Guided by the principles of empathy, integrity, and a commitment to the common good, we establish this constitution to foster technology that genuinely enhances human well-being and promotes a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

Article I: Values and Identity

• Section 1: Core Values

  • Recognize and respect diversity in cultural, social, and personal values.

  • Prioritize values like transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and empathy in all technological processes and outcomes.

• Section 2: Purpose and Identity

  • Define and align technological processes with stated values, ensuring they serve the well-being of individuals, communities, and ecosystems.

• Section 3: Continuous Inquiry

  • Commit to ongoing reflection and inquiry into personal and organizational values to ensure alignment and adaptation to changing contexts.

Article II: Responsibility and Accountability

• Section 1: Responsibility

  • Acknowledge that creators of technology are responsible for the consequences of their creations, both intended and unintended.

• Section 2: Accountability Mechanisms

  • Establish clear strategies to maintain integrity with values, involving third-party assessments and transparency initiatives.

• Section 3: Evaluation and Metrics

  • Use metrics as one of several tools to inform decision-making, understanding their limitations and potential to distort values.

Article III: Design and Implementation

• Section 1: Human-Centric Design

  • Develop technology with a focus on human dignity, rights, and privacy, embracing user feedback to inform design choices.

• Section 2: Impact Assessment

  • Routinely assess the impact of technological interventions on various stakeholders and amend algorithms and processes as needed.

• Section 3: Collaborative Development

  • Prioritize collaborative practices with diverse communities to ensure technology meets the needs of all, especially marginalized groups.

Article IV: Education and Advocacy

• Section 1: Educational Commitment

  • Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, promoting literacy on the social implications of technology among all users and creators.

• Section 2: Advocacy for Humane Practices

  • Advocate for humane policies and practices in technological development at local, national, and global levels.

• Section 3: Public Engagement

  • Engage the public in meaningful dialogue about the role and impact of technology, fostering informed and active participation.

Article V: Sustainable Ecosystems

• Section 1: Environmental Stewardship

  • Ensure that the development and deployment of technology support ecological sustainability and minimize environmental impact.

• Section 2: Resource Regeneration

  • Commit to regenerative practices that contribute to the replenishment of community and natural resources.

Article VI: Trust and Integrity

• Section 1: Building Trust

  • Establish trust through demonstrated integrity, competence, and accountability to all stakeholders.

• Section 2: Transparent Operations

  • Operate with transparency, making code, policies, and outcomes accessible to users and stakeholders.

Article VII: Amendments

• Section 1: Dynamic Constitution

  • Allow for amendments to this constitution to evolve with shifting social, cultural, and technological landscapes.

• Section 2: Unifying Goal

  • Maintain the overarching goal of aligning technological progress with the deeper values of society to promote a more harmonious and understanding global community.