Yes, there is something to say in that regard. But it is also harsh and easy criticism that is in itself biased, and shows just mindless anger.
On bias
If you look at the new landing page there is not a single word this is somehow not inclusive. It is directed to humanity in its entirety. The page is providing a generalized high-level summary of the problems, as a landing page should do.
On the problem page there could be mention of ‘Bias’ (but it is implicitly present in ‘social isolation’ and ‘polarisation’). But algorithmic bias is a technical phenomena, and exists on a more detailed level that need not be mentioned when doing a high-level overview. In the presentation Tristan mentioned “Overwhelming AI” and voodoo puppets of ourselves as among the big problems. Algorithmic bias is included in that.
In the worksheet that is now online there is mention of Group Dynamics:
We are inhibited when Excluded, divided and mobilized through fear.
Inhibiting factos:
- SuppressIng views and nuance
- Enabling ad hominem or hate speech
- Enabling viral outrage
- Lack of agreed-upon norms
There is no need to explicitly mention bias in this.
On using tech as the solution
So Rumman says:
"HEY GUYS so the answer to these problems is a (I kid you not) “full stack approach to human centered design. Bc engineering frameworks is what we need right now.”
The question is: ‘What is CHT all about?’, and then second: ‘How do you address an audience of high-level tech representatives that are dominating the world, and convince them to change their ways?’
We have many, many groups out there that try to improve how tech affects us. CHT is one of them and we - HTC - are another. We can ditch the big tech players and go ‘Small Tech’. With - in a couple of years - 5 billion people in the holds of Big Tech will that be the solution? No!! But it is at least a small part of the solution. For the foreseeable future only a fraction of people will go ‘small tech’, and these are mostly of the activist, more technical kinds of people. That is good, because they have a relatively louder voice to influence the Big tech world.
But Big Tech right now has already won dominitation. They will continue to grow. Creating an alternative tech world without some others tackling tech monopolies and the products and services they create is doomed to fail.
Here we come to CHT. The CHT is a strategic, top-down thinktank. They have scoped themselves to this. So yes, they focus on making the tech better for us. And they have the high-value network to do so. To whisper in some Big Tech hotshot’s ear, and to make Big Tech level boardrooms see reason of change. Of course they should use that network.
Tech itself and Engaging employees is one Strategic Pillar of CHT. Should Tristan at that conference say: “Hi guys.. we are going to regulate the hell out of you, and break your businesses apart”. No, of course not. But the second Strategic Pillar of CHT is to organize political pressure. They will do that for sure. How do you engage in politics in the most efficient ways? By being really diplomatic. By being a strategic chess player on an intricate and complex chess board.
That is where CHT is, and I find that a good and logical positioning for them.
On privilege
Re: “Mostly with middle class kids”.. Yes, there could be more diversity in the team, but at least the core team is 5 male, 4 female. Their privilege in terms of wealth stems from the fact that they are indeed insiders in the Silicon Valley scene, and this scene lacked the diversity too. This hauls back to the previous point. It makes them uniquely positioned to affect change from the inside. Most of the Big Tech is still SV-based after all. That they are rich and still working for the good cause, instead of retiring and taking it relaxed is.. noble?
Concluding: I don’t know Ms. Chowdhury, but I find these emails easy rants. Imho she fell in the Twitter trap of all-too-easy communication. This is the negativity we try to fight with better solutions. We can all be part of the solution, and take our own niche from where we operate. Cooperative spirits will prevail.
On Humane Tech Community position
The good thing is that - in comparison to CHT - we go from the other side, grassroots, bottom-up, and we forego the tricky diplomacy and politics sides that the CHT has to deal with. We work in the open, we lead in the open, and we are operating with fullest inclusion and diversity.
To that end - and for others reading Here is our position statement: Humane Tech Community Open Canvas