ethics
The Humanities Can't Save Big Tech From Itself
Hiring sociocultural workers to correct bias overlooks the limitations of these underappreciated fields.
When Mind Melds With Machine, Who’s in Control?
Brain-computer interfaces are getting better all the time—and they’re about to land us in a philosophical quagmire.
How Do You Practice Responsible Astrology?
For millennia, rulers and ordinary people alike have used the method to predict the future. Translating celestial movements requires great care—and compassion.
The Shady Business of Selling Futures
Futurists want to sell you your own uncertainty—and the more uncertain you are, the more lucrative a crystal ball gets.
If AI Is Predicting Your Future, Are You Still Free?
Part of being human is being able to defy the odds. Algorithmic prophecies undermine that.
The Future of Robot Nannies
A machine can't love our children, but our children might love them.
For Queer Communities, Being Counted Has Downsides
It can feel good that national censuses are collecting more data about gender and sexuality. But increased attention can come at the price of real action.
Who Killed the Robot Dog?
The robotic companion was once a dream of techno-utopianism, but has instead become a terrifying weapon. What happened?
'Worker Data Science' Can Teach Us How to Fix the Gig Economy
Gig workers are asking to see the algorithms that govern their labor. Their fight has important lessons for creating equitable workplaces for all.
Who Are We If Not Our Faces?
Undergoing dozens of operations to treat Crouzon syndrome made me look more “normal.” It also made me question my identity.
Ex-Googler Timnit Gebru Starts Her Own AI Research Center
The researcher, who says Google fired her a year ago, wants to ask questions about responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The Movement to Hold AI Accountable Gains More Steam
A New York City law requires algorithms used in hiring to be “audited” for bias. It’s the first in the US—and part of a larger push toward regulation.
The Future of Digital Assistants Is Queer
AI assistants continue to reinforce sexist stereotypes, but queering these devices could help reimagine their relationship to gender altogether.
That Glowing Patient Testimonial May Not Be What It Seems
People receiving medical treatment shouldn’t have to drum up new business for their doctors—it's time to hold the industry to a higher standard.
Timnit Gebru Says Artificial Intelligence Needs to Slow Down
The AI researcher, who left Google last year, says the incentives around AI research are all wrong.
An Ethics Bounty System Could Help Clean Up the Web
Tech companies just need to adapt the bug bounty system they already use to detect vulnerabilities in code.
This Program Can Give AI a Sense of Ethics—Sometimes
Researchers trained an algorithm to answer questions about human values. Some of the responses are troubling.
How to Govern the Metaverse
To build healthy communities in virtual reality, we must move beyond automated penalties toward proactive forms of governance. Games can show us how.
The Facebook Whistleblower Won’t Change Anything
Whistleblowing has turned into a secular form of confession that keeps the limelight on one person instead of the movements already doing the work.
Americans Need a Bill of Rights for an AI-Powered World
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is developing principles to guard against powerful technologies—with input from the public.
Would It Be Fair to Treat Vaccinated Covid Patients First?
Last week, Texas health care policymakers discussed taking vaccination status into account for Covid triage. It’s a larger conversation ethicists are bracing for.
Can Tech Ethics Be Learned—or Is Society Doomed?
Plus: An anniversary for Marc Andreessen, a new way to have even more meetings, and a call for an unlikely comeback.
Alondra Nelson Wants to Make Science and Tech More Just
The deputy director of the White House science office plans to tackle algorithmic bias and start candid conversations about the past.
What Really Happened When Google Ousted Timnit Gebru
She was a star engineer who warned that messy AI can spread racism. Google brought her in. Then it forced her out. Can Big Tech take criticism from within?