Building a future where socially-responsible tech is the norm
The Response-ability Summit, formerly known as the Anthropology + Technology Conference, is a unique two-day event that brings social scientists and technologists together to foster interdisciplinary conversations on the important topic of socially-responsible tech.
We renamed the event to better reflect the broader social sciences, not just anthropology, as well as our focus on action. Now is the time for technology designers and social scientists to come together, to create people-focused solutions that work demonstrably and measurably and do not exacerbate or reinforce existing social and economic inequalities.
Who’s behind the Summit
The Response-ability Summit is the brainchild of Dawn Walter, Founder and Managing Director of Mundy & Anson. We are a research consultancy, based in Bristol, U.K.
As Dawn explains, “The impetus for me was the social impact of algorithmic decision-making. There has been, and continues to be, much discussion about ethics. What seemed to be missing was a call for social scientists. The aim of this annual summit is to invite the tech industry to start thinking about the societal impact of this “fourth industrial revolution” alongside scientists who have deep knowledge of and about people and society: social scientists.
Socially-responsible technology design and development is a challenge for us all, and it’s important to have these conversations. Together.”
When the Summit was founded
The conference was founded in 2018 and the inaugural event took place at the Watershed in Bristol, U.K. on 3 October 2019.
The 2020 event returned on Friday 9 and Monday 12 October, this time online, connecting speakers and delegates from across the globe, and two major sponsors, Microsoft UK and Spotify, with funding from UKRI (ESRC).
The 2021 event was again online, on May 20-21, with sponsors including Stripe Partners and Bristol Digital Futures Institute. Speakers were responding to the question: How do we respond to the problems in tech using our abilities? Our 2021 theme art, Intersection, was created by creative technologist and artist, Kerry Harrison, using a combination of machine learning and traditional art-making techniques.
The aim of the Summit
The aim of the Response-ability Summit is to facilitate dialogue on emerging technology projects to help businesses and organisations benefit from more socially-responsible tech and AI.
Over the last few years, both academics and the media have documented the negative effects of automated decision-making (AI) in areas such as policing, healthcare, finance, credit reporting, and administration of public programmes. Today, these issues are still prevalent. As AI becomes more widely adopted, pioneering leaders are realising the importance of assessing the impact of technology on both their businesses and society as a whole.
AI can provide unparalleled opportunities but without the correct processes, it can also have a detrimental impact on people’s futures and a business’s reputation. It’s important that business leaders start proactively thinking about ‘responsible tech’ to retain their highly-skilled workforce, avoid reputational damage, and ensure readiness for tech regulation.
The need for an ethical framework and the perspective of social scientists has never been more critical.
Why the Response-ability Summit exists
The Response-ability Summit exists to:
- create dialogue around the opportunities of today’s cutting-edge technology
- show how socially-responsible tech is the only way we can all truly benefit
- help leading technology companies understand the value of combining teams of technologists with social scientists
- create a forum for leaders from the different fields to network and share ideas.
Join us and become part of an international community
We hope you will join us and become part of an international community of practitioners and leaders building a future where socially-responsible tech is the norm.
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