Depending on the audience, when people ask what I do, I generally say that I’m a Technologist. 

It’s a catch-all title that captures things pretty well. Folks tend to get that you work in some aspect of tech. It also alleviates the need for getting into the nuance of product design – and articulating how you work at the intersection of business goals, technology, and user needs to then be able to design stuff.

And so, as a so-called technologist, I recently completed the Center for Humane Technology’s curriculum called the Foundations of Humane Technology.

The Center’s mission is to align technology with humanity's best interests so as to improve overall well-being, strengthen communities, and respect our attention 🧠.

The content included eight 1-hour long modules that build upon each another. Although the content and discussion is excellent, I will say that the curriculum could benefit from a slight order restructuring to have the content flow a little better.

That said, here’s a brief summary of some of the key themes from the curriculum content: 

Module 1: Setting the Stage

• The goal of humane technologists is to align technology with user and societal values. We should act as ethical agents of systemic change.

• The companies that create technology should:

• Respect human vulnerabilities and minimize negative consequences

• Prioritize values over metrics

• Support democracy, fairness, and justice

• Help humans thrive

Module 2: Respecting Human Nature

• Humane technology must be values-driven and respect human vulnerabilities.

• Complex systems need probing and experimentation for effective solutions.

• Ethical technology design requires constant evaluation and adaptation.

Module 3: Minimizing Harmful Consequences

• Technology impacts society, as well as the environment; and companies often externalize the costs.

• In addition to growth and profit, we need to consider the broader implications of the role technology plays in society.

• One approach is to balance KPIs with anti-KPIs in order to have a balanced and holistic perspective.

• We need to understand historical context and potential externalities with the technological solutions that we invent — especially at scale.

Module 4: Centering Values

• Technology is not neutral; it ultimately reflects the values of its creators.

• An overemphasis on metrics can potentially lead to ethical blindness.

• Values should guide our technological design choices.

• We should strive to be metrics-informed, but also values-driven.

Module 5: Creating Shared Understanding

• Engaged democracies require ongoing shared understandings and nuanced discussions.

• If unchecked, social media can distort our reality and accelerate division.

• Algorithms often prioritize virality over quality, which can skew public perception.

• Taiwan’s model of citizen participation offers an interesting case study for creating consensus and solving problems.

Module 6: Supporting Fairness & Justice

• Our core values should emphasize responsible journalism, scientific methods, and nonviolent communication.

• Justice requires democratic values like free speech and due process in order to flourish.

• The pricing of products should include their real-world cost of externalities.

Module 7: Helping People Thrive

• Humane technology should contributesto human flourishing, not just temporary pleasure.

• Thriving amongst humans is about meaningful experiences, not just quick dopamine hits.

• Attention and intention are sacred; humane technology should protect these.

• We should aim to design for intentionality and deeply valuable experiences.

Module 8: Ready to Act

• As indicated above, we need to consider the hidden costs of harmful externalities during the product development process.

• Storytelling can illustrate challenges, choices, and outcomes to bring our audiences and stakeholders along.

• Like Giant Redwoods shedding their seeds after a fire, growth can occur after a crisis for us to act with resilience and an attitude of renewal.

Perhaps at the next dinner party I attend, when someone asks what I do, I’ll now properly introduce myself as a Humane Technologist. 

Marc