Why compassion has everything to do with computer science

Today’s transformative technologies are shaped by human capabilities. Here’s what we can learn from the life of one man about the role of compassion in technology transformations.

At the heart of my research and work on Algorithmic Business Thinking (ABT) lies a paradox: the sustainable and profitable companies of the digital economy will be increasingly reliant upon human-centered capabilities, rather than technology-centered ones.

This paradox is warning us that if we build our organizations upon silicon-based digital technologies and capabilities alone, we will be building our futures upon pillars of sand. It is inviting us to unify machine and human capabilities to unlock the potential of today’s transformative technologies.

These human capabilities include creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, and others. Among them, I would like to highlight the role of compassion. In doing so, perhaps we might also pay our respects to the life and memory of Alan Turing.

Born in London in 1912, Turing arguably founded what would become the field of computer science at the age of 24. His secret work made vital contributions to the Bletchley Park code breakers and, it has been suggested, shortened the Second World War by as much as two years, saving millions of human lives.

A life and legacy shaped by secrets

?It would be hard to truly quantify or qualify the staggering scale of Alan Turing’s contribution to society, then or now.

Many of the discoveries made by those who followed in his footsteps may have happened in vastly different ways or not at all without his contributions, many of which were covered by the Official Secrets Act and not recognized in his lifetime.

Turing’s contributions stand in painfully stark contrast with the injustice he suffered for another act of secrecy. Alan Turing was gay and prosecuted in 1952 for homosexual acts. As an alternative to a prison sentence, he accepted hormone treatment of Diethylstilbesterol?(DES), in a procedure commonly referred to as chemical castration.

At the age of 41, Alan Turing died. The ensuing inquest determined his death as a suicide.

Please think about this for a moment. A man whose secrets saved millions of lives and created a field that has enrichened society immeasurably paid the ultimate price for a personal and private secret that society wouldn’t allow him to hold.

It is very difficult to write these words, to consider the sacrifices and suffering Turing endured. But I would like us all to try to learn something from Alan Turing.?

Whether we are technologists or simply people who use technology, I believe we should make a promise to ourselves and each other. A promise to code, program and operationalize compassion; not only into the domain of computer science, but across all aspects of our work and lives.?

Technology with compassion built-in

Compassion is an organizational capability critical to our individual and collective success in the digital economy. It shouldn’t be a reactive muscle we exercise to fix a problem, but one that we use proactively when framing it in the first place.

Can we promise to create space in our work for compassion, please? The compassion to build and use technology in ways that ensure we respect and appreciate human differences, and value each person for who they are and want to become.

Alan Turing’s achievements are an inspiration, and I think his life should be considered similarly. Today, the term ‘Alan Turing Law’ is an informal reference to a UK law passed in 2017 retroactively pardoning men cautioned or convicted for homosexual acts under previous legislation.

Alan Turing’s legacy is not only the field of computer science he was instrumental in founding. It is also a deep commitment to infusing the fields we work and live in with compassion for our fellow humans and the planet we share.

Dear Mr. Turing – we thank you for everything.

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