In the 27 August IITPSA AGM Social & Ethics Committee contribution, our MD Josine Overdevest spoke about the importance of staying human in a digital age and the ethics of techno-solutionism. You can read a write-up of her presentation here, we also publish it below.
I’m a great fan of cartoonist Tom Gauld’s satirical take on technological developments. In one of his cartoons for New Scientist, a person expresses a desire to make more time to smell the roses — only to design a complicated machine called the Auto-Sniffer 3000. It’s a perfect illustration of the dangers of techno-solutionism — the belief that technology can solve all of humanity’s problems, often glossing over the social, political, and ethical complexities. This mindset reduces complex issues to mere “problems” that can supposedly be “solved” with tech, without considering the broader implications or root causes.
Tech-for-good: success stories
Of course there are many positive technological developments, like the AI- and Tech-for-good initiatives that address pressing global issues including the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Think about AI applications in healthcare, renewable energy optimisation through smart grids and Daisy, the robot that Apple has designed to deconstruct iPhones and recycle the components in order to combat e-waste. These applications demonstrate that technology, when aligned with human values and needs, can be a powerful force for good.
The environmental cost of technology
The environmental footprint of technology is substantial, with especially data centres, a core component in the AI infrastructure, consuming enormous amounts of electricity and water. In July this year both Google and Microsoft admitted doubts about reaching their 2030 NetZero targets. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), total electricity consumption from data centres could double from 2022 levels to 1,000 TWh (terawatt hours) by 2026 — equivalent to Japan’s total energy demand. AI alone could account for up to 6.6 billion cubic metres of water use by 2027, nearly two-thirds of England’s annual consumption.
As IT professionals, we must be aware of and address the ecological implications of our work. Sustainable practices and green tech solutions can mitigate these impacts, ensuring that our digital advancements do not come at the expense of our planet.
The danger of unthinking acceptance
The 2024 WEF Global Risks report puts misinformation and disinformation in first place in its two year outlook, ahead of extreme weather events and interstate armed conflict. One of the reasons it ranks this high is because undermining truth creates a lack of trust and leads to widening of societal and political divides. We only have to look at the recent riots in the UK, incited by false information on social media, to see how real these fears are. It reminded me of Hannah Arendt’s observations on the risks of unthinking compliance and made me realise how relevant these are in the digital age. It’s vital to foster a culture of questioning and critical analysis, ensuring that technological solutions serve to enhance human experience rather than diminish it.
Going off-line: rediscovering humanity
Fed up with growing dependence on technology, we’re seeing counter-movements emerge. Digital detoxes, for example, encourage people to unplug from their devices for a time, much like taking a break from alcohol during Dry February. Some people prefer “dumb” phones over increasingly demanding smartphones, while others join offline clubs in cities worldwide, where they leave their devices at the door to play games, read, and connect with others. These trends highlight the need to balance our digital lives with real-world interactions and experiences.
Enriching, Not Streamlining
So how do we strike this balance in the technology we design? I recently read a fascinating article, The AI we Could Have Had, by Evgeny Morozov in which he shares his decade long exploration of the late 1960s Environmental Ecology Lab of scientists Avery Johnson and Warren Brodey and residential artist Sansea Sparling. He’s uncovered their idiosyncratic and humanistic vision of tech systems that expand our opportunities for creativity and “would make us more sophisticated, discerning and complex, rather than passive consumers of generative AI-produced replicas of Mozart, Rembrandt or Shakespeare.” I love their ambition of enriching the human experience instead of streamlining it and how in Brodey’s view “the epitome of an intelligent environment was the classroom, a space designed to ignite new desires.”
Ethical Responsibilities of IT Professionals
Enriching technology should amplify human values and foster critical thinking and creativity. It requires IT professionals to make deliberate, thoughtful design choices. As stewards of technological progress, we hold significant ethical responsibilities. We must advocate for technology that upholds human dignity and contributes positively to society. This means engaging with diverse stakeholders to understand the broader impacts of technology and evaluating both short- and long-term consequences. Sometimes, the most ethical choice is to know when to say no — to not develop certain technologies at all.
With “ethical digital transformation” as part of its mission, the IITPSA supports its members to adhere to the Code of Ethics by organizing webinars on various topics related to digital ethics and publishing the Ethics in IT columns in its monthly newsletter.
As we push the boundaries of technological innovation, let’s do so with a commitment to enhancing human flourishing and protecting our planet. In the end, it’s not just about the technology we create, but the world we shape with it.
