The Ethical Technologist

Technologists today create computer hardware and software with capabilities that were unimaginable a generation ago. Just think of all the things that your phone can do. But with so much power at our fingertips how do we build trust in this technology and the people who invent it? We are living in a period like the Italian Renaissance when the world took a quantum leap forward. Hundreds of years from now, the technological advances of the 21st Century will be recognised as being pivotal in human history. Now is when exponential change began its rapid acceleration.Throughout history, humanity has invented technology with the simultaneous potential for benefit and harm. Since recognising the value of fire 2 million years ago, humanity has been harnessing useful but potentially dangerous technologies. Fire is excellent for cooking, keeping warm and defending against predators but it can also burn down the village. Then in the 1940's a new kind of fire in the form of nuclear technology created devastating weapons but also generates inexpensive electricity to power nations. Today there is concern over advances in Artificial Intelligence. How can we make sure AI is developed ethically so that it does no harm?So it is that the creators of technology must have a sense of the ethical dimensions of what they create and take responsibility for the consequences of their work. There is an obligation to current and future generations to ensure that the technology is beneficial, or at least does no harm. As far as skills go, knowing this is as important as knowing how to code.Helping people reach their potentialThe best and most desirable kind of technology is that which helps people to achieve their human potential. In humanistic terms, technology should help a person to become 'self-actualized' or the best version of themselves.On the other hand, the least desirable kind of technology is that which dehumanises people through poor design, or by intentionally reducing the user to a functional cog, rendering them powerless. This is the kind of technology that forces the user to adapt to it, rather than it adapting to the needs of the user. There is still too much of this kind of technology in the world. The ethical technologist knows not to do this.A simple two-part propositionIf you work in technology development, a key skill to possess is being able to analyse the ethics of your activity. It comes down to a simple, two-part proposition;People must be told what the consequences of using a technology will be and must give their informed consent,and thatThe user must not be harmed by using the technology.The ethical technologist has integrity. They behave the same way regardless of who they are with. They are not a social chameleon who changes their behaviour to be liked by the people they are with. They live by the principle that ethics is what you do when no-one is watching.The consummate skill of the ethical technologist is to be autonomous in the sense that t...