Apply to GoodBot’s Critical Thinking for Digital Ecosystems & Online Harms’ 

GoodBot invites applicants to apply for a 4-week live, cohort-based education program that gathers practitioners from across the nonprofit sector (education, civil society, and government) whose work addresses the impacts of technology on people and society. 

Participants in the “Live Course” offering will experience: 4 online (Zoom) sessions over 5 weeks, each consisting of:  

• Discussions from leading nonprofit leaders representing a breadth of issues at the intersection of technology and AI development, monetization practices, individual and societal impacts and public policy. 

• Engagement with knowledgeable guest speakers who represent salient and timely topics in technology. 

• Facilitated, small-group discussion to grow peer connections and collaboratively examine our roles.

• Readings and content to challenge our preconceived notions.

• Frameworks and language to begin exploring online experience and how it might be possible to make them safer, equitable, inclusive, transparent and accountable. 

In addition we offer: 

• (Optional) Extra curricular programming for professionals looking to create actionable impact. 

• Invitation to an ongoing community of practice made up of course alumni.

• A record of completion for participants GoodBot. 

Space is limited as participants are selected through an application process. 

Why

The rapid pace of technological innovation, including generative AI, brings major societal challenges in the form of online abuse, surveillance, labor and economic inequality, misinformation, and lagging regulation. To navigate what might be done to address these issues, we first explore how issues occurring on different platforms impact communities, what are the enabling factors and 

We invite professionals to reflect on their own role in these issues to meet these rapidly evolving challenges. Through this course, we hope to build shared language, foundational understanding, and a lasting network of cross-sector expertise committed to responsible tech leadership and meaningful action.

What

Over five weeks, participants will confront critical questions relevant to their professional practice in technology and with communities interacting with and impacted by technology: How do we understand the landscape of issues created by technology? What is at stake?  And most importantly: what agency do we have as civil society to influence the trajectory of technology toward ethical outcomes?

The course features insights from leading thinkers, service providers and practitioners at the forefront of AI, technology, and social societal impact aimed at improving participants' understanding of critical issues through practical and policy lenses. Participants will also have a chance to hear from and interact with distinguished guests and leaders. 

Finally, the course fosters peer-to-peer connection through facilitated, group interaction and follow-on engagement as a community of practice. Each session features smaller discussion groups, facilitated by an experienced course alumni, to reflect on the day’s content and exchange experiential perspectives.  Optional extra-curricular modules may be offered to focus on actionable bridging of ethics and practice. Finally, participants are invited to join an alumni network to continue their engagement and connection beyond the course. 

Who

This course is for civil society and social impact leaders, researchers, policymakers, and responsible technologists interested in exploring the intersection of public policy, and technological change. From frontline nonprofits to academics and researchers, government workers, non-profit leaders, and journalists, we welcome all stakeholders to learn from our experts and to connect with each other to promote novel, interdisciplinary approaches that advance safer, fairer and accountable digital futures.