Deliberate Intervention: Using Policy and Design to Navigate the Harms of New Technology
Sep 14, 2022
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Lou sits down with Alex Schmidt, author of Deliberate Intervention: Using Policy and Design to Navigate the Harms of New Technology. They discuss the harms of modern technology, proactive approaches to counteract biases, and bringing design and policy closer together in the field.
The book 'Deliberate Intervention' emphasizes the need to address various types of harms caused by new technology beyond just privacy and highlights the importance of using a policy lens to tackle these issues.
Designers need to be proactive in identifying and mitigating emerging harms in technology, such as unintended consequences of voice interfaces and AI algorithms, by embracing team diversity and targeting designs to the most vulnerable.
Deep dives
Deliberate Intervention: Navigating the Harms of New Technology
The podcast episode features Lou Rosenfeld interviewing Alex Schmidt, author of the book Deliberate Intervention. Schmidt discusses the background and motivation behind writing the book, highlighting the need to explore the harms of new technology beyond just privacy. He emphasizes the importance of using a policy lens to address various types of harms and argues that privacy alone does not capture the full range of negative impacts. Schmidt also mentions that the book covers topics such as quantifying harms, targeting designs to mitigate harm, and the role of team diversity in preventing biases. He suggests that designers in the private sector can proactively and reactively address harms within their organizations. Additionally, Schmidt explores the intersection of design and policy, emphasizing the complementary nature of the two fields and discussing the importance of designers engaging with policymakers.
Navigating Constrained and Unconstrained Spaces
Schmidt delves into the differences between constrained and unconstrained spaces in the context of technology and policy. In unconstrained spaces, designers often search for use cases to fit new technologies, sometimes overlooking potential harms. Schmidt cites examples like voice interfaces and emerging AI algorithms that can lead to unintended negative consequences. He emphasizes the need for designers to be aware of emerging harms and adopt proactive measures such as team diversity and targeting designs to those most likely to be harmed. Schmidt also highlights the concept of regulatory sandboxes as a space for startups to collaborate with regulators in exploring policy constraints for emerging technologies. Moreover, he discusses the challenges designers face in navigating the different paces of technology and policy, and the importance of finding ways to synchronize and align them.
The Role of Designers in Policy Spaces
Schmidt explores the intersection between design and policy, discussing the unique perspective that designers bring to the policy-making process. He mentions that designers can contribute to policy creation by incorporating design methods and insights into policy frameworks. Schmidt shares examples of designers who actively engage with policymakers to advocate for change, citing the work of Yuhan Sonam in healthcare tech as an illustration. He emphasizes the complementary nature of design and policy, with design focusing on user-centricity and policy considering the broader societal impact. Schmidt also acknowledges the challenges designers face in dealing with policy constraints, but encourages creativity and problem-solving within those boundaries. Finally, he discusses the need for designers to understand policy landscapes and advocates for better education and collaboration between design and policy domains.
Addressing the Pace of Technology and Policy
Schmidt discusses the inherent difference in speed between technology and policy, highlighting the rapid evolution of technology contrasted with the slower deliberation of policy-making. He suggests that designers in the middle ground are tasked with navigating and resolving the different speeds and interests involved. Schmidt mentions programs and initiatives that aim to bridge the gap between technology and policy, such as bringing tech experts into government roles and teaching policy to tech professionals. He also mentions the importance of governmental analysis of new technologies and the potential for regulatory sandboxes to explore constraints for emerging technologies. Schmidt acknowledges the complexity of the challenge but emphasizes the need for designers to advocate for closer alignment between technology and policy for ethical and responsible outcomes.
Lou sits down with Alex Schmidt, author of our new title Deliberate Intervention: Using Policy and Design to Navigate the Harms of New Technology. Together, they give us a rundown of the many harms modern technology has brought to society and how designers are attempting to work with policymakers to tackle these issues. Lou and Alex also discuss proactive approaches teams can take to counteract those harms and biases that often arise as technology companies grow and how bringing design and policy closer together in this field could benefit everyone long term.
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Discover highlights
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