Words: Duuk Baten & John Walker, SURF
How do we deal with new technologies responsibly, in a way that respects public values? Discussing this can shape technologies that preserve autonomy, justice and humanity. The SURF publication Responsible Tech provides tools you can apply immediately. And our latest paper zooms in on quantum; a rapidly evolving technology that brings both amazing possibilities and significant risks.
Responsible Tech: On Public Values and Emerging Technologies explores responsible decisions in the digital transformation of education and research. This is needed as the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) sets in motion massive changes. With this paper, we aim to facilitate the conversation. What is desirable for the near and distant future of education and research? And where do we as the education and research sector collectively want to go?
Using emerging technologies with an eye on public values
Emerging technologies are innovations whose development paths and potential applications are still uncertain. In a world of increasing digitalisation and vendor dependence, it’s not a given that these technologies are being developed with an eye on safeguarding our public values.
Public values guide us and help us make the right decisions in preserving autonomy, justice and humanity. Responsible tech looks at how we can achieve that. It merges the discussion around public values with the specific challenges posed by new technologies.
Get started with responsible tech
How do we ensure that the applications we develop and use work according to our values? How can we take responsibility for the impact of applications on end users? And how do we make sure we include these questions in our innovation processes?
Our discussion paper outlines the current situation, where we see both rapid advances and high risks. It also provides a clear step-by-step approach with which education and research institutions can shape their own responsibility and make an informed start with responsible tech.
Here, responsibility is not a theoretical concept, but a practical skill. For every step towards responsible tech, the paper offers hands-on tools that you can immediately try out in practice.
The impact of quantum on research and education
Quantum technologies are rapidly evolving, and SURF plays an active part in developments such as quantum computing and quantum internet. These technologies present both amazing possibilities and significant risks. Our latest report Towards Responsible Quantum Technologies: Where to look when preparing research and education for quantum technology? explores how we can responsibly embed these technologies in research and education.
By addressing key questions around security, accessibility, and ethical responsibility, this report helps us prepare for the potential impacts of quantum on scientific practices, data security, and educational systems. In line with our commitment to responsible tech, this report is a first step in understanding and shaping the future of quantum technology to ensure it aligns with public values.
Read or download the full magazine here
