As the influence of the tech industry has grown, public concern over how technology can both exacerbate and alleviate societal inequities has increased. In particular, there is a growing recognition that tech companies’ prioritization of shareholder returns can perpetuate systemic inequities in society. The PIT Lab aims to help bridge this gap by exploring the steps that governments, businesses, and other institutions can take to ensure that technology is built with the interests of all people in mind, especially communities historically harmed by technological development. The PIT Lab is conducting interviews and research to study inequities such as gender bias in hiring algorithms and the lack of racial diversity in the tech industry.

During the 2020-21 academic year, the PIT Lab began a partnership with the think tank New America to study inequities in a public benefit program, wrote a widely-shared piece outlining the endpoint problem for people of color and women in tech, and hosted an event with Heather Shen, the co-founder of a startup that provides immersive learning experiences to help increase diversity and inclusion outcomes. The PIT Lab also partnered with the Stanford Debate Society and Stanford in Government to host a public debate on whether the government should increase the use of algorithms in decision-making; the debate paid close attention to the potential effects on bias and equity.

Non-Traditional Paths in Tech Spotlight Series

The Advocacy team will be exploring non-traditional paths in tech through various interviews. We hope these will enable Stanford students to consider the importance of diverse perspectives in the industry and inform their own journeys. If you have anyone you’d like to nominate, please email VP of Advocacy Ryan Chandra (ryandc@stanford.edu).

Check out the first part of the series below!