September 30, 10am PT: Designing & Operationalizing Planet-Positive, Human-Centered AI
Session description: As organizations accelerate the adoption of AI, leaders face a growing challenge on how to move quickly while ensuring that technology serves people, communities, and the planet. This session will explore how companies can move beyond AI principles and compliance checklists toward governance models rooted in human well-being, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable impact.
John C. Havens, Global Director of the IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program and Founding Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, will share how organizations can embed ethical values into the design, development, procurement, and deployment of AI systems. Drawing on IEEE 7000, he will discuss how companies can identify stakeholder values, translate them into system requirements, and create traceability between ethical commitments and technical design decisions. The conversation will also explore John’s current work with IEEE Planet Positive 2030, including the idea of “strong sustainability by design” and the role technology can play in supporting human and ecological flourishing.
Attendees will come away with a clearer understanding of how responsible AI guidance, including the IEEE 7000 series and emerging sustainability-focused standards work, can help organizations turn abstract principles into practical decisions. The session is designed for leaders seeking to deploy AI in ways that are ethical, accountable, human-centered, and planet positive.
John C. Havens, Global Director, IEEE Planet Positive 2030
Bio: John C. Havens is the Global Director for The IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program that produced the Compendium document, Strong Sustainability by Design: Prioritizing Ecosystem and Human Flourishing with Technology-Based Solutions that inspired the creation of the IEEE 7800 Standards Series focused on sustainability.
He is also the Founding Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems which was responsible for creating Ethically Aligned Design: A Vision for Prioritizing Human Well-being with Autonomous and Intelligent Systems that was utilized by the United Nations, the OECD, IBM and dozens of organizations to create their AI principles, policies, and technology. John helped create the IEEE 7000 Standards Series, the largest suite of international standards focused on Artificial Intelligence and ethical / societal issues to date.
Previously, John was an EVP of Social Media at Porter Novelli and was a professional actor for over 15 years. John has written for Mashable and The Guardian and is author of the books, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity To Maximize Machines and Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World.