Emerging Technology

Framing ethical perspectives

Emerging Technologies are technologies whose development and/or practical applications are still largely unrealized. If left unchecked, these technologies could exacerbate inequality and empower autocrats, destabilize society, and destroy the concept of privacy. Carnegie Council’s events, experts, and impact initiatives, such as the Artificial Intelligence & Equality Initiative (AIEI), focus on the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies and aim to map the field, illuminate topics requiring further research, and build a diverse community of experts, with the goal of ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a just, responsible, and inclusive manner.

Featured Emerging Technology Resources

Artificial intelligence, climate-altering technologies, and more

APR 9, 2024 Video

Algorithms of War: The Use of AI in Armed Conflict

From Gaza to Ukraine, the military applications of AI are fundamentally reshaping the ethics of war. How should policymakers navigate AI’s inherent trade-offs?

MAR 27, 2024 Article

The Specter of EMP Weapons in Space

Visiting Fellow Zhanna Malekos Smith details the danger of electromagnetic pulse weapons. How can nations protect themselves from this catastrophic threat?

Explore Our Emerging Technology Resources

JAN 14, 2016 Podcast

Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

"Artificial intelligence" is a misnomer, says computer scientist Jerry Kaplan. Machines are not intelligent; their programmers are. What we're seeing is a huge acceleration of ...

Credit: <a href="http://www.new-harvest.org/ target="_blank">New Harvest</a>.

DEC 14, 2015 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: From Lab to Table

"New Harvest" wants to kick-start a bio-economy of animal products made without animals. Some have already called this revolution "the next .com."

NOV 16, 2015 Podcast

Addressing Root Causes of Unrest in Arab Countries

What's the best way to create stability in the Middle East and North Africa? Get more young people into the workforce, says Ron Bruder, founder ...

NOV 2, 2015 Podcast

American Century, Asian Century, or Nobody's Century?

Is the American century coming to a close, and if so, what's taking its place? Was there ever an American century to begin with? These ...

OCT 20, 2015 Podcast

Global Ethics Day: Feeding the Planet

There are roughly 2 billion people who are under-nourished and another 2 billion who are overweight or obese. In other words, about half the world's population is ...

SEP 29, 2015 Podcast

Can Human-Centered Design "Fix" Humanitarian Aid?

Design thinking has emerged as a new tool in humanitarianism. Proponents of the trend believe it can solve the problem long plaguing the aid community: ...

SEP 17, 2015 Podcast

Introduction to "Ethics & International Affairs," Fall 2015

In this podcast, Senior Editor Zach Dorfman discusses the journal's fall issue. Topics discussed include global standards for international judges; ethical consumption and individual obligations; ...

AUG 17, 2015 Article

Possible Future Worlds: Essays by Carnegie Council's Ethics Fellows for the Future

This booklet is the result of a six-month online course taken by the Ethics Fellows for the Future, based on Carnegie Council Fellow Thong Nguyen's ...

Photo: Allison Kwesell. Senior Fellow Devin T. Stewart examines a car destroyed by the March 2011 tsunami.

JUL 24, 2015 Article

The Ethics of Nuclear Power: Reflections on Carnegie Council Site Visit to Fukushima, Japan

As part of Carnegie Council's Global Ethical Dialogues site visits to eight countries around the world, in June 2015 the Council led a team of researchers, ...

Learning Initiative - Namie Township, Fukushima, Japan, Case Study

JUL 24, 2015 Article

Namie Township, Fukushima, Japan, Case Study

This case study of ethical decisions, developed by Learning Initiative Inc., is based on archival data at Namie Township, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, from the March 2011 ...