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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
2023-24 Annual Report: Building Ethics in Community
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AI and the Environment: Sustaining the Common Good

On November 1, 2024 the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and Next10 cohosted a daylong conference on AI and sustainability.

Access Recordings from "AI and the Environment" Panels

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Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap

By José Roger Flahaux, Brian Patrick Green, and Ann Skeet

"Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap,” or, more briefly, the “ITEC Handbook,” offers organizations a strategic plan to enhance ethical management practices, empowering them to navigate the complex landscape of disruptive technologies such as AI, machine learning, encryption, tracking, and others while upholding strong ethical standards.

Download the ITEC Handbook

Two-Thirds of Americans Surveyed are Concerned With AI’s Impact on the Human Race

Eighty-three Percent Believe AI Should be Government Regulated

A new report, Ethics in the Age of AI,  outlines how Americans feel about artificial intelligence (AI) from an ethical standpoint. The Markkula Center and its Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC) surveyed 3,000 Americans aged 18+ and found that they have concerns about the technology’s impact on the human race.

Access Report Findings

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All About Ethics: Perspectives From Across the Center
A single tree silhouette is composed of a mosaic of an array of small, colourful images of various types of trees in a collage, projected onto a cutout shape of a tree and overlap in vibrant layers. The base of the tree features a bright green grass wrapped around the trunk. Nico Crozier. Seeing the Forest for the Trees Licensed by CC-BY 4.0

The benefits of AI are much touted; the environmental costs should be discussed just as much.

Two Black women sitting on a park bench. One is wearing a

Why did the affordability crisis, misinformation, immigration chaos, and endless wars not split the Black women’s vote? Civic duty and protecting hard-won freedoms.

Voting Booth

Undecided voters need to decide. They have an obligation to become informed and an ethical duty to vote as part of the rights they receive as citizens.

An Industry Leader in Ethics Consultation

For more than 35 years, the Ethics Center has helped individuals and organizations make better decisions and includes offering fee-for-service options for organizations that want a customized approach to building training programs, case studies, and other materials.

Featured Ethics Spotlights
Two groups of protesters carrying Palestinian and Israeli flags facing off during an outdoor protest. Photo by Ted Eytan 2017.03.26 Anti-Israel Protest, Washington, DC. Used with permission under Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0.

The attacks in Israel on October 7th 2023, have reignited tensions, including intense combat in the Middle East and protests around the world. Ethics Center staff and scholars unpack some of the many related ethical dilemmas in this Ethics Spotlight.

Generative Artificial Intelligence including text, computer generated images.

Throughout history, new technologies have disrupted society in different ways–some positively and some negatively–from steam-powered engines and electricity, to the Internet, and now again with artificial intelligence (AI); generative AI in particular in this instance. The creation of art, journalism, education, and the very truth itself have all been tested by the use of ChatGPT and other generative AIs. Markkula Center staff and scholars unpack some of the many related ethical dilemmas in this Ethics Spotlight.

The U.S. Flag and Constitution, semi-automatic guns, a shooter with AR-15, and a human hand held in the air to block or stop the action.

The gun debate has again reached a fever pitch in the shadow of several horrific mass shootings. Ethics Center staff and faculty interrogate the moral and ethical issues associated with gun use and regulation.

Center News
Bilal Arshadullah Santa Clara University Class of 2024

Former Health Care Ethics Intern, Bilal Arshadullah ’24, fills inaugural role in groundbreaking fellowship.

Jim Welsh Advisory Board Member, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Technology executive and development and strategy expert, Jim Welsh, expands his role with the Ethics Center becoming the newest member to join the Center's advisory board.

Mark Stanich, Advisory Board Member, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Mark Stanich, Media and Hospitality industry executive, adds advisory board member to his involvement with the Ethics Center.

Tara Seracka, Advisory Board Member, Markkula Center for Applied E

The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics welcomes Cisco Senior Vice President, Legal & Deputy General Counsel, Tara Seracka, to the advisory board.

Voting for Ethics: A Guide for U.S. Voters

“Voting for Ethics” is a non-partisan, how-to guide for U.S. voters. It will help you identify the hallmarks of an ethical candidate and make a more informed decision -- whether for your local school board or a national election.

Purchase "Voting for Ethics"/Access Voting Ethics Resources

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Teaching Note: Interview of Theranos Whistleblower, Tyler Shultz

This teaching module for business ethics, leadership and management courses includes two videos, homework assignments, and class discussion, all designed to spark conversation about ethical issues associated with whistleblowers and corporate governance.

View the Teaching Module

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Evaluating Culture for Ethics

Our Culture Self-Assessment Practice recommends approaches to evaluating culture for ethics within companies and other types of organizations. The materials are primarily for members of an organization’s leadership team, including human resources and legal, but designed to engage a cross-section of leaders from various disciplines.

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Media Commentary

Irina Raicu, director, internet ethics, quoted by NBC Bay Area.

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Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics, quoted by San Jose Spotlight.

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John Pelissero, director, government ethics, quoted by The Mercury News.

Experts from Santa Clara University, Indeed, and Workday in discussion during Fortune's Brainstorm AI conference in 2024. Image provided by Fortune Brainstorm AI and used with permission.

Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics, quoted by Fortune.

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