Tech spells the end of the world as we know it
Sue Turner OBE
AI & data governance & ethics expert | Executive development on harnessing the power of AI | "100 brilliant women in AI ethics" | Professional speaker | AI consultancy | Non-Exec Director & Exec Board member
You come back from the New Year celebrations full of energy and good intentions then you read about a new technology that you're told will spell the end of the world as you know it. Or maybe not...
Giftcoin is a proposed new blockchain based cryptocurrency to link those who want to give with the causes they can support. Take out the cryptocurrency bit and that link role is what Quartet Community Foundation has been doing for more than 30 years so I ought to feel threatened by this new technology but I don't.
The reason why is simple; I'm no luddite burying my head in the sand - in fact I love new technology - but the problem here is their claim that Giftcoin will track the impact of donations and give donors confidence about how their money is spent. Good idea boys - but how are you going to deliver on that promise? Only a minute fraction of the 10 million charities in the world will be able to afford to link to this technology and they'll be the big players so - yet again - small local good causes will be by-passed.
There's no tech yet invented that can reach these vital local groups that do so much invaluable grass-roots work, and monitor what they do, better than well connected people like I have in my team. They know when's the right time to help a community group, what ideas would be duplication and which are really needed, who to trust and when.
Other cryptocurrencies for charitable donations are available but none of them will replace my team any time soon!