Discussion with Jennie Baird, Board Chair of The Ethical Tech Project, regarding the preservation of user privacy in technology advancements.
The Ethical Tech Project, a non-profit organization founded by tech entrepreneur Tom Chavez, is making strides in the tech for good space. With a mission to ensure users have insight into how their data is controlled and used by big tech companies, the organization advocates for universal privacy rights.
At the helm of The Ethical Tech Project is Jennie Baird, Chair of the Board, who brings over 30 years of digital media experience to the table. Retiring as Chief Product Officer of BBC Studios in January 2025, Baird has since dedicated her time to "tech for good" projects and organizations, including The Ethical Tech Project.
The organization has been gaining momentum, with over 150 applicants for the pilot Ethical Tech Fellowship within less than 10 days, demonstrating demand for their programs. The Ethical Tech Project differentiates itself by focusing on synthesizing and amplifying research and best practices developed by other organizations, and using those to develop practical tools and education for tech builders themselves.
The Ethical Tech Project's initiatives are diverse and far-reaching. They have delivered several key programs and projects, including The Privacy Stack, a reference architecture for privacy engineering, a consumer survey on GenAI, the Ethical Tech Curriculum, and the Ethical Tech Fellows pilot cohort. Jennie Baird's favourite memory working for the non-profit so far was the conclusion of the Ethical Tech Fellowship in June, where early- to midcareer Fellows pitched their ideas for new ethically-minded businesses.
The Ethical Tech Project operates in a challenging time for nonprofits, but continues to strive towards its mission. They are currently grant-funded and are seeking to develop relationships with additional grantmakers. The organization is also adapting its curriculum to bring Ethical Tech and AI training to corporations, industry events, and more.
However, The Ethical Tech Project faces challenges in demonstrating that doing the right thing when it comes to tech and AI ethics will be good for the bottom line, as the climate for regulation has shifted dramatically. Despite these challenges, the organization remains committed to its vision of a future where humans have insight into how their data is controlled and used by big tech companies, with the fundamental right to privacy being universally protected.
The Ethical Tech Project is also in talks with some investors about pathways to connect capital with ethical tech ideas. They partner with other organizations on programs and events in the tech for good space, and their platform recently interviewed Jennie Baird to gain a deeper understanding of the organization. As they scale their programs quickly, The Ethical Tech Project aims to reach significantly more builders and tech leaders with their practical ideas and solutions.
- Jennie Baird, the Chair of The Ethical Tech Project, is focusing on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their education and self-development programs, as seen in their Ethical Tech Curriculum and the Ethical Tech Fellowship.
- In the future, The Ethical Tech Project plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and optimize their technology for good initiatives, aiming to create practical tools and education for tech builders that prioritize ethicalAI principles.
