NEW INVESTOR BRIEF

Dehumanization, Discrimination and Deskilling: The Impact of Digital Tech on Low-Wage Workers

Investors at War with Tech Firms on AI

Investors at War with Tech Firms on AI

The US military alone has more than 800 active AI-related projects and has requested almost US$2 billion in funding for AI in the 2024 budget.

“Any companies providing technologies to militaries that could be violating human rights or the laws of war run the risk of criminal indictments, sanctions, civil suits and considerable reputational damage,” said Audrey Mocle, Deputy Director of non-profit Open MIC.“The risks for investors in these tech firms increase as they become more enmeshed with the [weapons] sector.”

Artificial General Intelligence: What Are We Investing In?

Artificial General Intelligence: What Are We Investing In?

Investors, particularly those with stakes in the big tech hyperscalers and limited partnerships in venture funds exposed to generative AI, should be critical of overselling the benefits of this new technology — financial or otherwise. Efforts should be made to encourage the deployment of this technology toward more productive ends. Any actual benefits should be weighed against the very real costs for which tech companies should be held accountable.

Investors Keep Tech Bros in Sights

Investors Keep Tech Bros in Sights

US-based tech firms’ close ties with the Trump administration are unlikely to discourage continued pushback and engagement from ESG-focused investors in the longer term.

“Aligning with political leaders may seem expedient in the short-term, but tech company heads may regret going all in if these leaders’ popularity declines or their policies are seen to be capricious and harmful to people and markets,” - Jessica Dheere, Open MIC Advocacy Director

“While Trump will undoubtedly have an impact short-term, we think ESG principles will ultimately prevail because they represent a smart way of doing business.” - Michael Connor, Open MIC Executive Director

Keeping up with AI

Keeping up with AI

With AI-related risks being inherently global in nature, the hope and anticipation is that there will be a suitably robust regulatory environment wherever the technology is deployed, Michael Connor, Executive Director at Open MIC, tells ESG Investor.

“Many companies have global activities, so we need to ensure that if they are applying a higher standard in Europe due to EU regulations, this should be the case wherever they operate to foster greater corporate accountability in the deployment and use of digital technologies,” he says.

The Human Cost Of Efficiency And Why It Should Matter To All Investors

The Human Cost Of Efficiency And Why It Should Matter To All Investors

As Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a coalition of faith-based and values-based investors, and OpenMIC, a nonprofit focused on responsible use of digital technologies, explain in their new report, Dehumanization, Discrimination and Deskilling: The Impact of Digital Tech on Low-Wage Workers, a critical element of algorithmic management systems is the monitoring and surveillance of workers in violation of their human rights.

Some Shareholders Aren't Happy About Alphabet's Lack of Transparency Over Artificial Intelligence

Some Shareholders Aren't Happy About Alphabet's Lack of Transparency Over Artificial Intelligence

“Generative AI makes up information. It creates information and misinformation that doesn’t exist. So, yeah, there are a wide number of experts that are concerned about it, and the shareholder proposal at Alphabet, and one that we’ve raised at other companies, reflects that concern. One survey shows that people, because of generative AI and those concerns about generative AI, they are eroding public trust in technology generally, and that’s one of the things that concerns us about the public franchise that these companies have.”

AI Proposals Ask Tech Giants to go “Beyond Platitudes”

AI Proposals Ask Tech Giants to go “Beyond Platitudes”

“These AI resolutions are just the beginning – this is not something that we see as a one off,” said Dheere. “AI is here to stay and it is in the interest of civil society, investors, companies, and governments policymakers to maintain focus on how we integrate it constructively into society while protecting human rights – and, frankly, the companies that are creating it.”

The Role of Shareholder Activism in Tech Accountability

The Role of Shareholder Activism in Tech Accountability

Michael Connor of Open MIC: “…we've embarked over the years on a whole range of issues ranging from the need for federal privacy laws writ large to artificial intelligence, facial recognition, all sorts of issues. And more recently working with both Arjuna and with my colleague Jessica at Open MIC on questions of artificial intelligence and what that means for misinformation and disinformation and as well dealing with Ekō and Christina as well. So the three organizations have been involved in a big effort lately about artificial intelligence.”

'Existential Risks': AI Anxiety Fueling Stream of Shareholder Proposals

'Existential Risks': AI Anxiety Fueling Stream of Shareholder Proposals

Arjuna Capital, which specializes in sustainable investing and manages $319 million, partnered with the advocacy group Open MIC to submit proposals calling on Alphabet and Meta to produce in-depth reports on the dangers of generative AI’s deployment in misinformation campaigns and how the companies plan to address them.

“Alphabet and Meta need to assure billions of users and their shareholders that their management and boards are up to the task of responsibly managing [AI] technology,” Open MIC Executive Director Michael Connor said.

What is the pro-Israel philanthropist on TikTok’s board doing about antisemitism on the app?

What is the pro-Israel philanthropist on TikTok’s board doing about antisemitism on the app?

“Their desire to maximize the value of TikTok may conflict with their desire to promote the interests of the Jewish people and Israel,” said Michael Connor, the executive director of Open MIC, an advocacy organization focused on corporate accountability in the tech industry. “There may be that conflict and they may not want to wade into it. It’s a complicated situation.”