Tech for Humanity

How should we decide what happens to privacy when almost every aspect of our lives can now be tracked through smartphones, sensors and cameras. If data is the new oil that is creating unprecedented wealth, how do we decide who should own and benefit from your data? What ethical standard for warfare should we use as the militaries of the world develop weapons that are smart enough to target and kill on their own. These are just a few of the many challenges that are forcing us to realize that technology is not just a technical issue, technology is also a human issue. In fact, the hardest problems we're facing in technology today, or at the Human Frontier. Our tech for Humanity Initiative is committed to solving these challenges. The Center for Humanities and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences is creating a new undergraduate tax for humanity minor that will enable any of our Virginia Tech students to learn and study at the intersection of humanities and technology. Our students will develop essential skills in areas such as AI, ethics, democracy and technology, and social justice. Our tech for humanity lab is researching the impact of digital technologies on human security. Our colleges even engage with federal agencies to develop public interests technology so that AI can ensure that everyday Americans have access to information that is essential to democracy. Our College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences is committed to making sure that our technological world is guided by the expertise and knowledge to create human Centered Outcomes and that advance public interest.