Radical Tech Companies Helping and Not Commodifying Humanity

Written by Kirsten Macdonald

Artificial intelligence is the art of a computing system making decisions with the capability of performing tasks without human prompting.

This entails assembling and evolving algorithms so quickly and seamlessly, it is a form of intelligence. Now more intelligent according to the experts than us. This is not a plot to a movie; this is the internet space of twenty-twenty. Did you get the notification? 

Seamless algorithms are a welcome agency when you are saving lives, sending information, access to education or assisting in times of crisis along with the capacity for positive social cohesion. Algorithmic designs can be like a beautiful mathematical dance of logic and coding genius. However, when used for persuasive techniques designed to capitalize on human weakness for profits we have on our hands a superpower, only a few have access to with unclear rules. A problematic dilemma one might say. 

To protect our privacy rights, our democratic freedoms, we require a code of binding and global guidelines and laws, A.K.A- ethics.

However, the chicken has come before the egg, and the horse has bolted out of the computer basement. There are currently no AI codes of conduct legally binding across the planet to protect people. Psychological growth hacking is a booming economy amongst players who are aware of what lurks beneath but do it anyway. 

Elon Musk says AI is the greatest existential threat to humanity. Where is Sarah Connor when you need her? 

Don’t panic, no need for tin foil hats just yet. Whilst some seek to profit to the detriment of our human frailties, there are those seeking to create ethical standards. In addition to a flourish of intuitive courage, there are humans ahead of the curve. There are technologists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and others who are deeply committed to humane technology. Platform founders not only ethical on purpose but with purpose with the precise intent of restoring integrity. So what does this mean exactly? 

It means using technology and building algorithms ethically, and in a way to enhance humanity, not harm it. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, AI should be used in ways that comply with human rights law, and AI should be used in ways that minimise harm, improving our lives. We ponder two standouts in the tech sphere doing it with finesse. 

Next Address

Next Address is a real estate platform that has taken centre stage in disruptive prop-tech is one such hero. The buyer-seller platform has the unique intent not to destroy in the disruption process but rather to enhance and develop the models on offer. 

Founder Julie O’Donohue says “authentic relationships and radical transparency drive every action at Next Address. This is the only way we are going to bring positive change to the real estate sector. A sector much maligned for many years but a sector that all of us need to use. We saw algorithms would streamline processes and activities, and they do. But ethics are core; we use our algorithms as a tool to enable people and not to manipulate or feed the attention economy. Our algorithms match data between buyers and sellers. We do not use these clients data for any other purpose than connecting the buyers and sellers. Our proprietary technology reduces transaction costs and saves our clients money.” You can find out more about Next Address Here

Bounce

Bounce is an app empowering people via positive psychology. It is an app and an intuitive bot hybrid designed to boost optimism, increase resilience, build connections, meet goals in real life. Their catchphrase is “Practice positive thinking, and learn to notice and expect the good things in life.”

Founded by friends Christopher Weeks and Alastair Byrne, their mission is inspiring. According to Chris, they started Bounce because:

“A large number of our friends, family and close ones were suffering from mental health issues, and we found that solutions were often reactive, heavy handed and hard to access. We wanted to create something better. We wanted to create something that would take a preventative approach to mental health, while being simple, easy to access and available to anyone, anywhere at any time. We wanted a solution that is fun and engaging, while removing some of the stigma surrounding mental health. Everyone has mental health and everyone needs to look after it. Finally, we wanted our work to be based on science and help push the boundaries of mental health research.”

You can read more about them here: https://medium.com/bounce,mind/bounce-the-start-of-the-journey-to-better-mental-health-4010f1ebfe1a

We look to the future where more leaders like these make the brave step to forge AI and ethical algorithms focussed on people and positive outcomes rather than a business model with a profit first people second mentality. The possibilities give us hope. 

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