Emerging Technology

Framing ethical perspectives

Emerging Technologies are technologies whose development and/or practical applications are still largely unrealized. Carnegie Council’s events, experts, and initiatives 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 these systems are 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

DEC 22, 2014 Podcast

Money and American Politics: A Conversation with Lawrence Lessig

On a crusade against the corrupting influence of money in politics, Lawrence Lessig founded a "super PAC" which raised $10 million to support candidates committed to ...

NOV 14, 2014 Podcast

A Conversation with David Keyes on Advancing Human Rights

In the Soviet era, it was difficult to alert the world of what was happening to dissidents, says David Keyes. Today, however, there's an overload ...

SEP 25, 2014 Article

Ethics Fellows for the Future 2014 Essay Collection

This booklet is a collection of the Ethics Fellows for the Future (EFF) essays and project outlines as well as the winning essay of Carnegie ...

CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/infocux/8450190120/">infocux Technologies</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">(CC)</a>

SEP 5, 2014 Podcast

Big Data, Virginia Woolf, and the Right to be Forgotten

As a society, we're still developing vocabulary to talk about data technology and the moral questions it raises. In this first of a series of ...

Decision. CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/8275165638">Thomas Hawk</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">CC</a>)

AUG 4, 2014 Article

Toward Understanding Our World's Moral Landscape: Carnegie Council's Centennial Projects on a "Global Ethic"

As part of its Centennial activities, Carnegie Council launched several projects, including the Global Ethical Dialogues and Thought Leaders Forum, to explore the concept of ...

Protesters in Sao Paulo in June 2013 via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-190374902/stock-photo-sao-paulo-brazil-june-some-protesters-marching-on-paulista-avenue-holding-signs-with.html?src=9bHtQcDaZEdt6k_Tqv-RUw-1-12">Shutterstock</a>

JUN 25, 2014 Article

The Participation Gap

"Inequality doesn't result only from differences in income or wealth (the focus of French economist Thomas Piketty). It also has a political dimension, fueled by ...

CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandialabs/5804732918">Sandia Labs / Randy Montoya</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">CC</a>).

JUN 18, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Of Moonshots and Slingshots

Only if policy people and technologists work together better will we change the world in ways that are congruent with our most critical human needs ...

CREDIT: One Earth Designs.

JUN 16, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Now They're Cooking: SolSource Harnesses the Himalayan Sun

With a solar cooker designed through community consultation, two young innovators are delivering clean energy to remote mountain villages, as well as your backyard BBQ.

The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move?

JUN 9, 2014 Podcast

The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move?

Today we create information in everything that we do, and there is no going back. But instead of seeing this as as a threat, we ...

YouTube screenshot of "Happy" Iranians.

MAY 30, 2014 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: A Dangerous Dance in Modern Iran

Any stirring of excitement about change in Iran needs to be tempered by the reality that change will never come from the current leadership.