Tech Futures: 52 Conversation Starters

Jon Ellis, Associate Professor, Director Center for Public Philosophy

The Center for Public Philosophy at UC Santa Cruz is creating a deck of playing cards that will catalyze conversations about Ethics and Technology, and they want your ideas. Each card will present a pressing ethical question arising from emerging advances in technology — genetic engineering, AI and machine learning, social algorithms, agritech, astrobiology, and so forth.

Questions like:What kind of intelligence or consciousness would a robot or artificial machine need to have for it to be wrong to destroy it? Should tech companies be legally required to put resources (time, money) towards investigating the ethical implications of what they create? When if ever should a self-driving car sacrifice its passengers for the safety of pedestrians? Cards will not tell players what to think.

They’re a playful way to stimulate dialogue on some of the critical issues we need to face.If there’s a question about tech and ethics (or social justice or individual rights) you think is urgent or particularly troubling, we want to know. Submit your ideas by November 15, 2020 to receive a free pack of cards when they come out.