In Response to 'Reflections on "Tech for Good'"
Julia brought to her blog post an insightful article that debunks the phenomenon of "Tech for Good" which many urban-minded technologists proudly claim to produce (guilty here as a fellow 11-6) and thoughtfully reflected on her own experiences producing such 'Tech for Good.' The article Julia cites, "Tech for good isn't a thing" by Alix Dunn, brings up other insightful points I'd like to elaborate on with my own personal experiences and observations.
I've witnessed others and have caught myself engaging in the "build-first" approach that treats technology as the end-all solution to social issues that require more complicated and organized solutions, often in coordination with interdisciplinary and diverse perspectives. As a result of recent advances in artificial intelligence, I saw a handful of booths at the career fair claiming to use AI powered tools and chatbots to address housing and health issues. This reminds me of the questions which Dunn brings up over who should have power to build for whom and how these digital systems and technologies should be managed in "pro-social, anti-racist and net beneficial ways." I asked myself if such companies actually consulted with affected communities and experts in the issues they are addressing or if they just wanted to hop on the AI bandwagon and offer a band-aid solution.
I always knew I wanted to come out of MIT starting a career where I could leverage my technical expertise to make a social impact and I thought that if the selection of companies at this career fair were representative of the available career opportunities, then it would be hopeless to do so.
In my last blog post I came to the conclusion that business and social good are almost always mutually exclusive as companies are profit-driven and often soley operate out of self-interest. However, Dunn alludes to the existence of governance structures that allow companies to design missions that benefit society and references the Zebra business model as an example. Moreso, Dunn argues that revenue structures are value-neutral: non-profits and charitable organizations can make profits despite what many believe. As a graduating senior at a crossroads in relation to her career, I find these words encouraging and hopeful that I can accomplish what I set out to do in the first place.