Digital Ethics : How can we make tech a force for good? // Technology Untangled, Episode 8

[Michael_Bird]

The tech world is at a tipping point. From data analytics to AI, the last few years have seen an explosion in emerging tech, and it's only accelerating. But are we pausing to think: just because we can, should we?

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the tech that's shaping our political, social, and moral existence. Dave Strong fills us in on the good, the bad, and the ugly side of analytics, and why willful ignorance isn't going to cut it. Jen Rodvold explains why a tech goal in isolation is about as useful as an IoT flip-flop, and how organisations can strategise in this brave new data-driven world. Plus, Mick Jackson explains the democratising power of digital, and why the sustainability and relevance of your brand depend on it.

For better or for worse: the dichotomy of the digital era

We don't need to look very far to see the incredible, life-changing benefits that technologies like artificial intelligence and data analytics bring to our society. Tech is inherently neutral, and things like bias are added by humans. So, why do we so often get it wrong?

Dave Strong fills us in on the good, the bad, and the ugly side of data: from incredible advances in medicine to the scandalous tech headlines that shook society. Plus, Jen Rodvold explains why making tech in a vacuum could be to blame for our potential flaws, and how organisations can do more to protect individuals.

Bigger than tech: business for good is good for business

At the Wildhearts Group, Mick Jackson is involved in a plethora of wide-ranging social missions, from education to banking, powered by the group's corporate clients. This is more than just designing tech for good, it's about how tech fits into the wider spectrum of ethical practice in our organizations.

Mick explains how organisations can use digital as a democratiser to address bias, inequality, and accessibility in world by reimagining their resources. We discuss why you should bring your problems to work with you, and why the sustainability and relevance of your brand depend on it.

Digital ethics: trust, opportunity, and strategising for the unknown

If you're shuddering at the idea of filling out another new risk assessment form then fear not! As Jen Rodveld explains, digital ethics is less about putting on the guardrails, and more about enabling innovation.

She explains how trust can be a market differentiator, why a tech goal in isolation is about as useful as an IoT flip-flop, and why your strategy needs to be steered from the top and powered from the bottom.

Key takeaways:

• It's time to act. Innovation is accelerating and so is our fundamental requirement for technology. Digital ethics is a responsibly that we all share as individuals, as organisations, and as a society.
• Yes, it's about mitigation, but it's also about opportunity. Organizations that get ethics right outperform those that don't almost all metrics, from market capitalisation to employee engagement, consumer trust, and attracting the best talent.
• You can't eliminate risk entirely. Tech is complex and things can go wrong, but organisations should empower themselves with the expertise to anticipate potential consequences and react appropriately.

Links and Resources:

• Doing the right thing: The rise of ethics in tech | HPE blog
• Trust and responsibility in a digital age | HPE blog
• The ethics of AI | Hewlett Packard Labs
• Video: The ethics of AI: tool, partner or master? | HPE enterprise.nxt
• Paper: Corporate digital responsibility | Lobschat, Mueller, Eggers, Brandimart, Diefenbach, Kroschkeag, Wirtzh
• Wildhearts Group
• Sopra Steria
• Ada Lovelace Institute
• AI for Good Foundation
• TechUK

Michael Bird
Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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