Foundations of Humane Technology

A free, self-paced online course for professionals shaping tomorrow's technology

Join Thousands Globally

Over 17,000 participants from 130+ countries are learning how to build more humane tech. Learn alongside engineers, product managers, researchers, and professionals from top organizations such as Meta, Apple, and the United Nations.

To build technology that matters tomorrow, we have to start with different principles today.

Join Participants from Influential Global Organizations

What Tech Leaders Are Saying ABOUT OUR COURSE

“I can think of no content with more insight into what is causing the world’s biggest problems today, and more potential to enable their solutions.”
“If you want what you build to last, you need to create technology that's humane and built from trust.”
Foundations offers a structure and language for building technology that is considerate and safe. Required learning for anyone in tech, not just engineers.”
“Essential for anyone developing for impact.”

What Tech Leaders Are Saying ABOUT OUR COURSE

“I can think of no content with more insight into what is causing the world’s biggest problems today, and more potential to enable their solutions.”
Foundations offers a structure and language for building technology that is considerate and safe. Required learning for anyone in tech, not just engineers.”
“Essential for anyone developing for impact.”
“If you want what you build to last, you need to create technology that's humane and built from trust.”

Foundations of Humane Technology
Recommended by 99% of graduates

Recommended by
99% of graduates

17K+ participants
130+countries
4.6average rating

Course Details

  • Available in 3 formats: written, video, slides
  • Currently free of charge, thanks to our generous donors
  • For professionals, with or without a technical background, shaping tomorrow's technology
  • 8 self-paced modules that average 1 hour each to complete
  • Interactive exercises and reflections to help internalize the material and additional resources to dive deeper
  • Regular events to learn from like-minded people and experts

Course as Video

If you prefer a video format, you can watch a 1-hour presentation of each course module.

Jump in anywhere - you don't have to take the modules in order, nor do you have to be enrolled in the course to attend a specific topic.
Module 1
Setting the Stage

What challenges define this moment in history and how can the technology we build help to address them?

Module 2
Respecting Human Nature

How can technology work with, rather than against, our innate vulnerabilities and biases?

Module 3
Minimizing Harmful Consequences

How do economic forces affect products, and how can product teams reduce harmful side effects?

Module 4
Centering Values

How do the conditions of our lives shape our values and how might metric-driven product development be centered on our values?

Module 5
Creating Shared Understanding

How can technology foster the trust and understanding we need to solve complex problems together?

Module 6
Supporting Fairness & Justice

How can technology enable a more just world, and integrate the voices of people who experience harm?

Module 7
Helping People Thrive

How can products help people act in alignment with their deeper intentions, rather than optimizing for engagement?

Module 8
Ready to Act

How can we create a culture of humane technology inside of our workplaces and broader industry?

What You’ll Learn

Learn how the old paradigm went wrong, and how to act from a new, more humane paradigm.

Foundations of Humane Technology is made possible by the generous lead supporters of the Center for Humane Technology. Support for this course was provided in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.