Who We Are and What We Do
At Emerging Technology & Industry Practice, we are dedicated to exploring the impacts of new AI and data-driven technologies on communities, assessing the effectiveness of emerging AI governance and accountability practices, and ensuring that evidence informs AI policy debates. Our mission is to foster equitable distribution of the benefits of these technologies while preventing potential harms.
Core Questions
Our work revolves around addressing these fundamental questions:
- What are the societal implications of new and emerging technologies, and how might they affect different individuals and groups?
- How can developers and deployers of AI technologies be held accountable for the impacts of their creations on people and society?
- What practices can policymakers and regulators implement to ensure that developers of AI technologies are accountable to those affected by their products?
Approach
We conduct comprehensive research into emerging technology areas, business models, and industry trends. This involves close collaboration with industry labs to gain insights and produce recommendations for industry and policymakers on best practices for ensuring the safe and legal operation of AI systems.
Our research methodologies include:
- Working groups and expert convenings
- Public deliberation initiatives
- Desk-based research and synthesis
- Policy and legal analysis
- Surveys
- Qualitative interviewing
- Ethnographic methods
Principles of Engagement with Industry
Our engagement with industry is guided by the following principles:
- Openness and Transparency: We conduct research openly and transparently, ensuring that our findings and recommendations are made public. While we may grant anonymity to participating organizations and individuals if necessary, transparency remains a cornerstone of our approach.
- Independence and Balance: As an independent organization, we have the freedom to determine the focus and content of our work. We do not accept funding from, provide consultancy for, or act as contractors to the private sector, allowing us to maintain a balanced and unbiased perspective.
- Proximity to Those Affected: We strive to bridge the gap between technology developers and the communities impacted by their creations, particularly those traditionally underrepresented and minoritized. Through public participation research, we acknowledge and address power asymmetries inherent in the technology development process.
Impact
Through our efforts, we aim to:
- Build awareness and understanding within national governments of the risks associated with emerging technologies and advocate for mitigations to address potential harms.
- Develop and evaluate practices and interventions for enhancing accountability over AI and data-driven systems in collaboration with key actors in the public and private sector.
- Shape norms and discourse in the technology industry to foster greater consideration of the societal impact of AI and data-driven systems.
At Emerging Technology & Industry Practice, we are committed to driving positive change in the intersection of technology and society. Join us in our mission to build a future where emerging technologies serve the common good and benefit all.