What AI Can’t Reach at the End of the Road

<div class="wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94ea2d6b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><div class="header alignfull header--split-image has-background has-white-background-color"> <div class="header__layout"> <div class="header__content"> <h1 class="header__title has-h3-variant">Archives</h1> </div> </div> <figure class="header__media" role="presentation"> <img decoding="async" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app.jpg" alt="A Guatemalan farmer in a plaid shirt uses a smartphone in a field of yellowish crops. Technology in the field requires a human anchor. Source: Gabrijelagal / Getty Images" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app.jpg 1920w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-1500x844.jpg 1500w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/farmer-and-phone-app-300x169.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" loading="eager" class="header__image" style="object-position: 50% 50%"> </figure> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"></div> </div> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:50%"> <div class="post-people"> <div class="post-people__person"> <figure class="post-people__headshot"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Roger-Santodomingo-by-Platon-1-300x300.png" class="attachment-mobile size-mobile" alt="Roger Santodomingo black and white headshot by Platon (2026)" srcset="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Roger-Santodomingo-by-Platon-1-300x300.png 300w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Roger-Santodomingo-by-Platon-1-150x150.png 150w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Roger-Santodomingo-by-Platon-1.png 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </figure> <div class="post-people__info"> <h3 class="post-people__name"> <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/roger-santodomingo-author/" class="post-people__link"> Roger Santodomingo </a> </h3> <p class="post-people__position"> Head of Global Communications </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:66.66%"> <p class=""><strong>In Guatemala, when a new government comes in</strong>, important data often disappears. Files get lost, ministers leave, and what the last administration learned about the economy becomes just rumor. To help, a private university in the capital quietly took on a new role: it keeps the country&#8217;s information safe. Fernando Escalante, who manages partnerships at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, explained this simply. &#8220;In some cases,&#8221; he told a group of development professionals in Washington in April, &#8220;the university effectively becomes a keeper of information for ministries.&#8221; The university does this work for free. A few people there decided that losing this knowledge was not acceptable and took it upon themselves to protect it.</p> <p class="">Keep that example in mind. An institution is preserving something important because a few people would not let it be lost. This level of commitment is uncommon, and no machine can take its place.</p> <p class=""><strong>All of this took place at the annual Leadership Convening</strong> of ANDE, the Aspen Institute&#8217;s global network that supports small businesses in developing countries. This year, the main focus was artificial intelligence, with two sessions for different groups. One session was led by academics, the other by founders already working with AI. Both sessions were practical and avoided exaggeration. Despite their different backgrounds, both groups faced the same difficult truth.</p> <p class="">Let’s look at what these tools can already do, because their speed is impressive. Mapping an entrepreneurship ecosystem—the network of accelerators, lenders, trainers, and investors around small businesses—used to take months of fieldwork. Now, an analyst with a good AI model can scan the market, identify key players, find service gaps, and spot trends in just a few hours. The impact on financing is just as significant. Matt Wallace, who started the AI-based lender ONow in Southeast Asia, focuses on the “thin file” problem: strong businesses that lack the paperwork banks require. Tasks that once took weeks to review now take days or even hours, especially when local groups help provide accurate information.</p> <p class="">For years, people working in development thought the main problem for entrepreneurs and those who support them was a lack of knowledge. The usual belief was that if you mapped the landscape, measured business performance, and allocated resources wisely, you would succeed. But artificial intelligence has changed things by making advanced analysis relatively cheap and easy to access. Now, we have to admit the revealed truth: the real barrier was never just a lack of knowledge.</p> <h5 id="the-fair-game" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Fair Game</strong></h5> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="480" height="360" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ANDE-Leadership-Convening-AI-and-entrepreneurship-development.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-245929" style="width:552px;height:auto;object-position:50% 50%" srcset="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ANDE-Leadership-Convening-AI-and-entrepreneurship-development.jpeg 480w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ANDE-Leadership-Convening-AI-and-entrepreneurship-development-300x225.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></figure> <p class="">As we have seen throughout the history of computing, the toughest problems are the ones that cannot be automated. Most people in the room now agree that technical prowess is no longer a big advantage. Christopher Neu, whose firm <strong>Exchange Design</strong> helps organizations use these models, pointed out that the industry often focuses on selling tools instead of creating real value. The models are quickly becoming common and essential, but the real strength lies in the hard work of adapting these tools to an organization’s unique skills. <strong>In development, the real</strong> <strong>advantage comes from being close to the community. Years spent building trust with smallholders</strong> <strong>or founders cannot be replaced. As these tools become cheaper and more widespread, human</strong> <strong>relationships will matter even more.</strong></p> <p class="">The second insight is more concerning because it questions the heart of development work. Cheap intelligence does not guarantee fair results. Julia Kaufman of <strong>J-PA</strong>L, known for careful evaluations, shared a clear example. In a Kenyan trial, entrepreneurs used an AI advisory tool. The strongest businesses improved their margins, but the most vulnerable ones actually failed. &#8220;It worsened revenue and profits for lower-performing entrepreneurs,&#8221; Kaufman said. The concern is not only that the technology did not help them, but that it may have made things worse.</p> <p class="">Prateek Shrivastava, from the <strong>Alliance for Inclusive</strong> <strong>AI</strong> at <strong>BFA Global</strong>, highlighted a similar problem in Indian microfinance. There, an easy-to-use emergency loan product on WhatsApp led to a debt spiral because it valued speed over caution. Even the “thin-file” advances that Wallace supports have drawbacks. Yes, making invisible borrowers visible can help them get credit, but it can also lead to more defaults.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-h6-variant"><strong>A tool that is only efficient and neutral</strong> <strong>will always benefit those already ahead and, unintentionally,</strong> <strong>may harm those on the margins. If the purpose of the development sector is to close gaps, then any technology that accentuates disparities must be fixed rapidly and deliberately, no matter the cost. Fairness is a choice, not a default</strong> <strong>setting.</strong></p> <p class="">You could see the sector trying to find a workaround in real time, though some people were clearly uneasy. While some advocate for a tiered service model, for most, it&#8217;s not only the optics that aren’t good: the top 10% get personal coaching, the middle group gets a mix of machine advice and human support, and those at the bottom are left with a WhatsApp bot. If you have ever been stuck with your bank’s “smart assistant” when you wanted to talk to a real person, you know the feeling. This setup might seem fine on paper, but as a social strategy, it is risky. It suggests a future where the poorest are served by algorithms, while the most promising get human judgment. Once this two-tier system is in place, it is hard to reverse.</p> <p class="">The third lesson moves from software to structure, looking at how the sector uses its resources. Again, the experts agreed: while picking the right model is important, the real challenge is helping organizations learn and adapt. Pilar Martinez-Gohring, who leads <strong>Cosecha</strong>—which connects Central American farmers to global markets—explained how building an AI app led to big changes inside the organization. They did not just add a new product. Cosecha rebuilt its data systems and hired four times more engineers. She believes you cannot use these systems well without turning your organization into one that focuses on AI. The tool ends up shaping how you work and who you are. Wallace agreed, warning that we often mistake doing things quickly for actually learning. In the end, only learning leads to lasting progress.</p> <p class="">If, in our current historical cultural shift, learning is the actual work, then current funding models are not set up to support it. At this point, both academics and practitioners shared the same frustration about funding.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" title="ANDE Leadership Convening Thank You!" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pT7ys_0EWRk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div></figure> <h5 id="%e2%80%8bthe-grant" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>​The Grant</strong></h5> <p class="">The<strong> </strong>Development work is usually set up as projects with fixed goals, timelines, indicators, and a final report. When the project ends, so does the funding. Academics said this is why important knowledge keeps getting lost. A donor funds a study, which leads to a report, then a dashboard, and with the final deliverable the grant ends. What comes next is a story on repeat: the staff leaves, and the knowledge goes with them. This project-based approach not only fails to keep knowledge alive but also makes it hard for organizations to adapt to new technology.</p> <p class=""><strong>The way development is funded has become part of the problem</strong>. Wallace believes an alternative approach to grants that begins by funding experiments and learning cycles, instead of just projects, is an absolute necessity today. For Martinez-Gohring, the best path forward is to support existing systems rather than starting programs from scratch. No need to reinvent the wheel if groups like <strong>Cosecha</strong> already have the networks, data, and digital tools in place. Shrivastava, in turn, recommended using blended finance to reduce early risks when building from the ground up.&nbsp;</p> <p class="">​This brings up a question the academics could not answer. If the data that describes a public good is itself a public good, Mark Marino of <strong>VentureWell</strong> asks, &#8220;who owns the data? Who maintains it?.&#8221; Someone has to be responsible for keeping it accurate and funded over time. Jeff Reid, who leads <strong>Georgetown University&#8217;</strong>s entrepreneurship program and jokingly calls universities &#8220;a terrible place for entrepreneurship,&#8221; made a strong comparison. Public-health data is treated as a public good. Societies have built institutions and spent public money to keep that data up to date because they decided that tracking disease is worth the cost, even without a specific project. Economic development data does not receive the same treatment. It is created in bursts by whoever has a grant, then forgotten when the grant ends. The difference comes down to what we choose to remember.</p> <p class=""><strong>Whoever controls the data controls how success is defined.</strong> So what is at stake here is not just a database. Deloris Thomas, who leads the <strong>Joseph Business School </strong>and its campuses worldwide, argued that standard assessments typically measure the wrong things. They focus on the most successful firms and overlook smaller ones, or count revenue without considering whether success helps a poor neighborhood or takes wealth away from it. Most current metrics were designed for a different type of entrepreneur than those her school serves. On a global level, this becomes a question of sovereignty, as Shrivastava pointed out: outside a few wealthy countries, who can even build these systems, given the resources they require? When the models that analyze a poor country’s economy are trained and owned elsewhere, being a &#8220;keeper of information&#8221; is no longer only a local solution. More crucially, it becomes a question of who gets to define a nation’s identity.</p> <h2 id="talent-and-trust" class="wp-block-heading has-h5-variant"><strong>Talent and Trust</strong></h2> <p class="">There is a human bottleneck at the center of all this, and it is more important than many realize. People who can see beyond their own tasks—what we call talent—are rare, which is why Wallace says organizations should hoard them and pay them well. But the bigger risk is not using too little AI, but using too much. Practitioners warned about the danger of over-adoption: a junior staff member might produce a polished, confident AI-generated report without knowing if it is accurate. The best way to think about AI is as an intern: fast, capable, sometimes impressive, but always needing supervision. This ties back to the first lesson. If expertise is what really matters, then a tool that lets people skip the hard work and just get results is not real help and won’t lead to more productivity in the long run. By making things too easy, creating the ilusion of brilliance, it slowly weakens the judgment that made the organization trustworthy in the first place.</p> <p class="">Near the end of the academics&#8217; session, there was an exercise that felt like an admission. Participants got sticky notes and were asked to design the ideal institution to manage ecosystem intelligence from scratch. Every group faced the same challenges. A university could take on the role, but as Reid pointed out, there are problems with incentives and funding. A private fund might try, but it answers to investors instead of the truth. Multilateral organizations already create reports that few people read.</p> <p class="">When the groups shared their answers, two-thirds named ANDE, the network hosting the event. Pedro Martinez, the moderator, was honestly surprised. &#8220;I swear I was not planning for ANDE to be the answer,&#8221; he said. The group could not agree on a coalition, a fund, or a group of universities. Instead, they did something very human. Since they could not agree on who should be trusted with the knowledge, they did the most human thing: they chose the organization that brought them together.</p> <p class=""><strong>That is the main point, and it is not really about AI. </strong>The technology has made analysis almost free to produce, but the main obstacles remain. As is the case with society at large, small business ecosystems must consider how to maintain accurate knowledge after the excitement has passed. Who has to take responsibility for it, besides focusing on the money? Someone has to decide it is worth funding, even when no specific project depends on it. Someone has to make sure this affordable new intelligence reaches the farmers who need it most, not just the businesses that were already likely to succeed. None of this can be automated. All of this is the kind of work the development sector has always said it does, and now there are fewer excuses not to do it.</p> <p class="">One of the most important lessons from both sessions, as Martinez-Gohring said, was that learning to support each other through these changes will matter more than any single discussion. Escalante’s university understood this too, even if they did not say it out loud. They keep the ministries’ knowledge safe because losing it was not an option, and because someone saw it as a duty, not just a job. This kind of stewardship is unpaid, sometimes seems unreasonable, and is based on refusing to let important things disappear. It cannot be scaled up or automated. Still, it may be the key to turning cheap new intelligence into real knowledge that actually helps the people development is meant to serve.</p> <div class="wp-block-post-author"><div class="wp-block-post-author__avatar"><img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ad4c52f6e6a63abf097ecd3d85b9d3e4bcfe06fa7c334880b388fcbe752c7171?s=48&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ad4c52f6e6a63abf097ecd3d85b9d3e4bcfe06fa7c334880b388fcbe752c7171?s=96&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' /></div><div class="wp-block-post-author__content"><p class="wp-block-post-author__byline">The Aspen Institute</p><p class="wp-block-post-author__name">Roger Santodomingo</p></div></div></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:33.33%"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="610" height="1500" style="object-position:50% 50%" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ANDE-Leadership-Convening-2026-610x1500.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-240544"/></figure> <details class="wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow"><summary><strong>Entrepreneurship, Development and AI</strong><br></summary> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>The conversations drawn on here took place at the ANDE Leadership Convening in Washington in April 2026 — the annual gathering of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, a membership organization housed at the Aspen Institute that connects the funders, accelerators, and support organizations working with small and growing businesses in emerging markets. Two sessions took up artificial intelligence.<br>&#8220;Universities and Artificial Intelligence: Building Permanent Ecosystem Knowledge&#8221; was moderated by Pedro Martinez, <strong>ANDE</strong>&#8216;s Latin America Regional Director, and paired a panel with a working exercise. The panelists were Jeff Reid of Georgetown University&#8217;s entrepreneurship program, Julia Kaufman of <strong>J-PAL</strong>, Fernando Escalante of <strong>Universidad del Valle de Guatemala</strong>, Mark Marino of <strong>VentureWell</strong>, and Dr. Deloris Thomas of the <strong>Joseph Business School</strong>. Afterward, members broke into groups to design an institution that could own and maintain ecosystem intelligence. The exercise ended with two-thirds of the room nominating ANDE itself.<br>&#8220;AI and the Future of Entrepreneurship Support&#8221; was a practitioner conversation facilitated by Elfid Torres, CEO of the <strong>Fundes Group</strong>. Around thirty leaders heard from four builders: Christopher Neu of <strong>Exchange Design</strong>, on the enablement layer that helps an organization actually use a model; Matt Wallace of <strong>ONow</strong>, on AI-native lending to entrepreneurs with no financial paper trail; Pilar Martinez-Gohring of <strong>Cosecha</strong>, on an advisory app for last-mile farmers in Central America; and Prateek Shrivastava of <strong>BFA Global&#8217;s Alliance for Inclusive AI</strong>, on who outside a few wealthy countries can take part in building these systems. Polled on where they stood, most said they had no AI strategy yet, and a strong majority expected the technology to remake how they work; the barrier they named was money, talent, and whether an organization is built to learn. • <strong><em>RS</em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"> <details class="wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow"><summary>Disclaimer on AI use</summary> <p class="has-text-align-right"><em>This article has been copyedited using Grammarly AI language tool.</em></p> </details> </div> </details> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <div class="card-slider alignfull has-grid-spacing-small"><div class="card-slider__nav"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-h4-variant" id="h-related-events-and-articles">Related Events and Articles</h2> <button type="button" class="card-slider__go card-slider__go--back" aria-label="Previous"> <svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-left" role="img" focusable="false" height="0" width="0"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-left"/></svg> </button> <button type="button" class="card-slider__go card-slider__go--forward" aria-label="Next"> <svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-right" role="img" focusable="false" height="0" width="0"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-right"/></svg> </button> </div> <div class="card-slider__content"><div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/the-changing-face-of-retirement-and-the-future-of-work-big-questions-and-bold-solutions/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EOP-FOW-CARD_Dylan-Tyson-blog.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="The Changing Face of Retirement and the Future of Work: Big questions and Bold Solutions" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/the-changing-face-of-retirement-and-the-future-of-work-big-questions-and-bold-solutions/">The Changing Face of Retirement and the Future of Work: Big questions and Bold Solutions</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">The retirement landscape is at a critical juncture, and it’s created a global opportunity — and responsibility — for us all. 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If We Get It Right" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Videos</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/the-potential-for-scaling-technology-increased-labor-productivity-if-we-get-it-right/">The Potential for Scaling Technology: Increased Labor Productivity &#8230; If We Get It Right</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">In this conversation with Economic Opportunities Program Executive Director Maureen Conway, Padhi explores the massive potential of scaling technology and generative artificial intelligence (AI) and where many companies have fallen short of realizing these benefits. </div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="76046" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>March 26, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person">Asutosh Padhi</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/second-and-third-order-effects-of-ai/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AI-Effects_Thumbnail-1.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="The cover of Aspen Digital report, &quot;Second and Third Order Effects of AI.&quot; An illustration of a Newton’s cradle device." style="object-position: 50% 100%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/second-and-third-order-effects-of-ai/">Second and Third Order Effects of AI</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">When imagining the effects of AI, we look to a distant future, beyond first order impacts, to ensure these tools benefit all of humanity.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="75988" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>February 26, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/responsible-data-in-product-equity/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1007" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Product-Equity_Data-Webinar_Thumbnail-1500x1007.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Our Primer on Responsible Data in Product Equity: Demographic Data Collection and Use in Product Development" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/responsible-data-in-product-equity/">Our Primer on Responsible Data in Product Equity: Demographic Data Collection and Use in Product Development</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Responsible data in Product Equity is possible. Our primer with planning resources, case studies, and current research explains how.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="75969" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>February 11, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/shreya-singh-hernandez/">Shreya Singh Hernández</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/responsible-data-practices/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Product-Equity_Data-Report_Thumbnail-1500x1000.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Responsible Data Practices for Product Equity" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/responsible-data-practices/">Responsible Data Practices for Product Equity</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Building equitable products requires balancing a deep understanding of the people using them with responsible data practices.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="75961" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>February 4, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/global-perspectives-on-technology-and-society/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="793" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/yesenia-in-Spain-1500x793.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Global Perspectives on Technology and Society" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/global-perspectives-on-technology-and-society/">Global Perspectives on Technology and Society</a></h2><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="82877" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>January 16, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/yesenia-g-sanchez/">Yesenia G. Sanchez</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/beyond-automation-anxiety-shifting-the-narrative-from-technological-fears-to-worker-power/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CARD-FOW-Beyond-Automation-Anxiety-MMille.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Beyond Automation Anxiety: Shifting the Narrative from Technological Fears to Worker Power" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/beyond-automation-anxiety-shifting-the-narrative-from-technological-fears-to-worker-power/">Beyond Automation Anxiety: Shifting the Narrative from Technological Fears to Worker Power</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">How do we think about cities, states, and municipalities as sites of experimentation and contestation for new models of workers co-designing technology initiatives with employers?</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="82864" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>January 15, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/cyber-recommendations/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cybersecurity-Policy-Recommendations_Thumbnail.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Cybersecurity Policy Recommendations for the New Administration" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> <span>Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/cyber-recommendations/">Cybersecurity Policy Recommendations for the New Administration</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">The Aspen Institute’s US Cybersecurity Group recommends a set of cybersecurity priorities to the incoming Administration.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="82918" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>January 13, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/navigating-growth-change-and-impact-with-laela-sturdy/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/LaelaSturdyHeadshot-1000x1500.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Laela Sturdy Headshot" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/navigating-growth-change-and-impact-with-laela-sturdy/">Navigating Growth, Change, and Impact: Insights from Laela Sturdy, Managing Partner at CapitalG</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Hear from Laela Sturdy on scaling global tech giants like Stripe and Duolingo to redefining leadership in venture capital.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="76544" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>January 3, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/art-of-trust-building-in-tech/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Trust-Building-in-Tech_Thumbnail_SMALL-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="A person in hiking gear helps another person in hiking gear cross a river, representing trust-building in tech." style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/art-of-trust-building-in-tech/">The Art of Trust-Building in Tech: Essential Strategies for Industry Leaders</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">How does trust-building in tech intersect with diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace? Business and equity experts weigh in.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="76510" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>December 18, 2024</time></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/what-ai-cant-reach-at-the-end-of-the-road/">What AI Can&#8217;t Reach at the End of the Road</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org">Aspen Institute</a>.</p>