April 4, 2025

Faculty Associate encourages critical thinking around AI in new article

ARS Technica

TPL Faculty Associate Emily Bender shares thoughts about the challenging public perception of AI in a new article in ARS Technica. Bender commented on a survey comparing attitudes about AI that polled both the general public and AI experts. The findings showed the public is much less enthusiastic about the technology than experts but that […]

March 3, 2025

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 […]

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 […]

December 14, 2024

Co-Director notes consumer tracking may have unequal impact

KUOW

Whether you’re doing most of your shopping online or in-person, your habits may be tracked, according to a new KUOW article. Surveillance technology can glean a lot of information about consumers, and Co-Director Ryan Calo worries its impact is disproportionate. “Systemically speaking, when companies study consumers for their own benefit, consumers can get harmed by […]

November 11, 2024

Politics will have mixed impact on tech, Co-Director says

KUOW

Co-Director Ryan Calo encouraged caution when examining the future political climate in a new KUOW piece. Tech leaders have seemed optimistic about the Trump administration in recent statements but Calo urged caution. “The benefits of a Trump administration for the tech sector will not be evenly distributed.” He said that while Trump policies could benefit […]

‘Bot or Not?’ series highlights Co-Director’s work

GeekWire

GeekWire recently highlighted a study by Co-Director Aylin Caliskan showing critical bias in resume screening technology. “Gender, Race, and Intersectional Bias in Resume Screening via Language Model Retrieval” is discussed as part of GeekWire’s “Bot or Not?” series exploring the relationship between humans and machines. Caliskan worked with Information School Ph.D. student Kyra Wilson on […]

September 18, 2024

TikTok ban is constitutionally complex, TPL Program Manager says

Global News

The TikTok ban currently being discussed in federal appeals court is complex, said TPL Program Manager Alex Bolton. Bolton told Global News that there is not a straightforward constitutional answer. “You have these two constitutional principles butting up against each other … and I don’t think you can necessarily say that one always trumps the […]