![]() ![]() The Ethical OS toolkit is designed to help ensure this happens. Of course, most of us want to create tech that serves a good purpose. She saied, “The main thing is to differentiate between having good intentions and actually taking the steps necessary to ensure positive outcomes. In closing, Kumra spelled out some of the key principles that help in navigating this space. People like Keith Weed at Unilever or P&G’s Marc Pritchard are great examples of how brand leaders can take a stand.” I’d love brand managers to wake up to the fact that they meet their goals in ways that aren’t harmful or addictive and find the more beneficial interplay between consumers and the brand. And so much of that power has been given away to the platforms. We moved on to the role of brands and business in moving to a more ethical approach. We’ve also had great feedback from funders and accelerators, including those at Techstars, who are already integrating the Ethical OS framework within their network of 1,500 startups around the globe,” she said. Tech boards, executives, policy teams, and engineers all have a responsibility to think through both the downsides and upsides of a product. Consumers have a responsibility to push back on terms of service that aren’t clear. It’s so easy for us to shift blame to just tech companies, but every single part of the ecosystem has a responsibility here. I asked Kumra what role and responsibility technology companies have to play in this issue. We’ve already piloted the toolkit with 20 tech companies and schools, and are actively seeking feedback at !” It has checklists, scenarios, and exercises that will make teams stronger in how they flex their muscle of foresight. The Tech and Society Solutions Lab takes a broader view of product downsides and helps tech makers understand not just a single issue, but rather how they can better future-proof their products to create something more beneficial for society. While there is plenty of research out there linking smartphone use to increased depression in teens, or election interference happening on social media platforms, that isn’t the sole focus of our work. It’s a three-part toolkit to help team leaders and other technologists anticipate how tech might be compromised down the road, and build safeguards against future risks, to the best of our abilities. “In partnership with the Institute for the Future, we developed the Ethical Operating System, # EthicalOS for short (I came up with this moniker on the back of a napkin right before our first focus group!). Kumra explained what the Ethical OS idea is all about. Through this, Omidyar Network is partnering with incredible organizations and people, including Tristan Harris at the Center for Humane Technology, Eli Pariser, the author of the Filter Bubble, and many others to support and co-create solutions to help minimize the unintended consequences of tech and maximize positive impact. In February, the Tech and Society Solutions Lab was launched to help technologists build responsibility into core business and product decisions and contribute to a thriving tech industry. An example for this is Loris.ai, a startup that uses a data-driven approach to help companies navigate hard conversations (think: a Crisis Text Line to bring empathy, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving to businesses, helping them better anticipate and navigate difficult situations). Many of Omidyar Network’s investments to date harness technology as a force for good. I want ethical questions to be part of a normal product pitch.This is where we work to make the tech industry the best version of itself,” said Kumra. My recent experience cofounding a tech startup brought me to this work, after having hundreds of conversations about my product but never about its consequences. “I’m an ad industry veteran, worked in innovation in the government, and am a founder of two companies. ![]() I caught up with Raina Kumra, entrepreneur-in-residence at Omidyar Network’s newly minted Tech and Society Solutions Lab to learn more. In collaboration with Institute for the Future (IFTF), Omidyar Network has taken a first step with the release of the ‘Ethical OS’ toolkit which attempts to tackle some of these challenges, some of which are of great concern to brands and businesses. As brands and businesses grapple with the unintended consequences of digital technology - social isolation, mental health, the spread of virulent philosophies - it becomes apparent that what is needed is some sort of digital Hippocratic oath on the part of the creators of these technologies. ![]()
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