Potential Impact of Data-Centric AI on Society

By on December 18th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

DCAI has the potential to revolutionize many industries and fields by enabling more efficient and effective decision-making based on insights extracted from data. Monitoring and evaluating the algorithm’s performance can help identify and mitigate biases over time, ensuring reliable and ethical results.

The Role of Public Policy in the Adoption of Prosthetic Limbs in the United States

By on December 5th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Commentary, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

We urge that there be a federal mandate to include bionics in federal insurance programs and insurance companies regulated by Obamacare. As prostheses advance in sensory capabilities, insurance companies need to recognize prosthetic limbs as a part of the body susceptible to personal injury, not just as equipment, since they have haptic capabilities (i.e., the sense of touch) and can feel distress.

Diversity Initiatives for Women in IT: Friends or Enemies?

By on December 1st, 2023 in Articles, Commentary, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

There have been many arguments made for why increasing diversity and improving the representation of women in this field is important such as workers shortage, estimated increase in countries’ gross domestic product (GDP) by including more women in this sector, creating software that better represents the needs of women overall—potentially addressing some of the existing biases in algorithms, and bringing about a general improvement in society.

ChatSh*t and Other Conversations (That We Should Be Having, But Mostly Are Not)

By on November 3rd, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming people’s access to and attitudes toward knowledge. It is an extremely powerful technology, but this transformation presents numerous social, environmental, political, and educational considerations.

Learning Futures, with Sean Leahy, Punya Mishra

By on October 22nd, 2023 in Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Podcasts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, Video & Podcasts

What if education systems were doing more and thinking differently about preparing learners to thrive in the future? Join hosts Dr. Sean Leahy, and Professor Punya Mishra of Arizona State University for conversations on improving education and the futures of learning.

Society’s Dilemma in Our Day in Age: Technology and Academics Versus Social Development

By on October 16th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

If we had a system in the United States where 50% of the time was dedicated to a single academic program for everyone, and the other 50% to social development, society would reap the benefits.

Respecting and Protecting Cultural Values in an Indigenous Virtual Reality Project

By on September 27th, 2023 in Articles, Case Studies, Commentary, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology

Co-design and development of technology with indigenous communities requires respect and close partnership. Here, we reflect on our experiences working with a Māori (indigenous New Zealand) community as Pākehā (non-Māori). In particular, we consider the importance of protection as an underlying principle.

Counteracting the Global Labor Shortage Risk Through Human–AI Collaboration in Digital Recruiting

By on September 25th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Commentary, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

Amid a global labor force crisis, we cannot turn a blind eye to technological solutions. However, we must approach them with caution and prudence to avoid exacerbating existing biases.

Remembering an Ethical Engineering Advocate

By on September 24th, 2023 in Articles, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, News and Notes, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

The IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) lost one of its leading lights when Stephen H. “Steve” Unger passed away on 4 July 2023, at the age of 92 (https://technologyandsociety.org/ssit-csit-co-founder-stephen-h-unger-dies/).

Puebla, Mexico, Announced as Next ISTAS Location, September 18-20, 2024

By on September 21st, 2023 in Articles, Blog Posts, Conferences, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements

The 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society will be held in Puebla, Mexico, from September 18-20, 2024, at the Universidad de Las Americas, Puebla (UDLAP). ISTAS24 will be the first ISTAS conference to be held in Latin America.

IEEE ISTAS 2023 Conference in Swansea, Wales, Hosts First of Two Scheduled Climate Change Panels

By on September 16th, 2023 in Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blog Posts, Conferences, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact

Some topics addressed on the September 13 panel included climate change challenges related to health and healthcare, contributions of computing to the climate change problem in terms of energy use, along with the potential of computing to contribute to solutions to the crisis, agriculture and food security issues related to climate change, systems design, finding solutions and improving communication across IEEE societies, carbon removal, and economic and social aspects of the crisis including forced migration, water supplies, and the responsibilities of developed nations to developing nations in climate change mitigation.