April 1, 2025

Waymos’ lack of humanity may help rationalize violence, Co-Director says

KQED

The recent rash of vandalism targeting Waymos (driverless robotaxis) raises questions about why these cars inspire hostility. TPL Co-Director Ryan Calo explores this topic and public anxiety over artificial intelligence in a KQED radio story. He posits that since Waymos are robots that lack any characteristics of humans, they are easier for humans to target […]

March 3, 2025

Join new technology salon April 14

Society + Technology

Technology for the People is a Society + Technology at UW salon co-hosted with the Department of Communication’s Center for Journalism, Media, and Democracy arranged to showcase empathetic, community-focused engagement with technologies for justice and democracy. Featuring speakers from UW Seattle, UW Tacoma, and UW Bothell, the conversation will discuss efforts toward digital equity and information access in the […]

Power intersecting with media is impacting free speech, Co-Director says

KUOW/NPR

Ownership of platforms by politically powerful leaders is creating an environment of bullying and fear, Co-Director Ryan Calo said in a recent segment on KUOW. “What we’re seeing today that’s new is that some of the most influential voices who are bullying other Americans also have the reins of power, whether that be because they […]

February 20, 2025

‘StarTalk’ welcomes Co-Director emeritus to discuss human values and tech

StarTalk

Co-Director emeritus Batya Friedman was a featured guest on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s most recent episode of “StarTalk,” a podcast that bridges the intersection between science, pop culture and comedy. Friedman joined to discuss the challenges of designing a future where human values and AI coexist, and what it looks like to integrate ethics and human […]

February 3, 2025

Control over AI can mean extreme power, Co-Director says

Good Day Seattle/Fox13

Co-Founder Ryan Calo recently joined Good Day Seattle to discuss the future of AI and the Trump administration investment in the technology. “There’s a lot of people in this administration … that think of this technology, of AI, as the most important technology of our time,” Calo said. “And furthermore, they think that whoever controls […]

February 1, 2025

Co-Director’s research named to top 10 stories in 2024

Montreal AI Ethics Institute

Research by Co-Director Aylin Caliskan and UW Information School Ph.D. student Kyra Wilson was named one of the top 10 stories in ethics and responsible AI for 2024 by the Montreal AI Ethics Institute. The AI Ethics Brief post notes that “Gender, Race, and Intersectional Bias in Resume Screening via Language Model Retrieval” highlights the […]

January 20, 2025

Society + Technology convenes panel for first community event

GeekWire

The Society + Technology program recently held its inaugural convening, centered around a cross-disciplinary panel and messages from UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Tricia Serio. Coverage in GeekWire highlighted the intention of the S+T initiative and the program’s growing community footprint. “We put society first, very intentionally, in the name of the initiative, […]

January 18, 2025

Trump’s next moves on TikTok ban are far from clear cut, Co-Director says

The New York Times

Co-Director Ryan Calo recently spoke with The New York Times about potential moves the new President could make to circumvent a looming TikTok ban. “You could have a policy not to enforce this ban,” Calo said. “But I think that maybe conservative companies would just be like: ‘OK, you’re not going to enforce it. But […]

January 13, 2025

S+T launches Salon series today

The Society + Technology program is launching a Salon Series today with two online conversations on genetics and bioethics. This initiative is one of the community programs designed to strengthen the emerging cross-campus, cross-disciplinary network. Each Salon is a one-hour and 15-minute conversation between three to five Affiliates from the S+T network, with a moderator. The […]

January 2, 2025

Register now for the Society + Technology inaugural convening

We’re thrilled to share that Society + Technology at UW is hosting an Inaugural Convening on Friday, Jan. 10, to bring together the incredible and growing S+T community from the UW’s three campuses working at the intersection of society and technology. The event will open with remarks from President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Tricia Serio as […]