For researcher Kristy Claassen, PhD candidate in Philosophy of Technology at the University of Twente, that’s where the real question about the future of AI begins: how can we design technology that is not only smart, but also caring, inclusive and just?
From idealism to meaningful technology
Before diving into the world of artificial intelligence, Claassen ran an NGO supporting homeless people in South Africa. “I’ve always thought about how we can make the world a better place,” she says. “When technology started playing such a big role in daily life, I became curious about how we could use that power to truly serve people.”
That curiosity brought her to Twente, where she combines philosophy and technology. In her research, she explores the values embedded in AI. “In discussions about responsible AI, you often hear the same values repeated: transparency, privacy, autonomy. But who actually decided that these are the most important ones?”
During her fieldwork, Claassen spoke with students and professionals about what they find important. Other values emerged: creativity, because people fear technology may suppress their imagination, and integrity, because they believe companies should take responsibility, not just in words, but in actions.
What we can learn from Ubuntu
As a philosopher, Claassen looks at ways of thinking beyond the Western tradition. One of these is Ubuntu, an African philosophy centred on community, relationships and mutual care. “Ubuntu says: I am because we are,” she explains. “You become truly human through your relationships with others, and also with the environment you live in.”
From that perspective, technology is not something separate from us, but something that evolves alongside us. The question then becomes: do our technologies bring us closer together, or drive us further apart? Claassen believes many current systems serve the interests of a few, when ideally they should strengthen communities as a whole.
If technology isolates us from one another, what’s the point of calling it intelligent?
AI that connects rather than divides
If we were to design AI with community in mind, it would create a very different kind of technology, one that values wellbeing over profit and connection over efficiency. Claassen points to examples that give her hope: AI systems in Africa that help track animal migration patterns in a changing climate, or a chatbot that supports survivors of sexual violence in reporting to the police. “These are technologies that can help heal, rather than divide,” she says.
Ubuntu also offers another way of making decisions. Instead of rushing towards outcomes or profit, it centres dialogue, deliberation and consensus. “In Ubuntu, the community talks until there’s agreement,” Claassen explains. “It takes time and attention, but it ensures that technology truly reflects the values of the people who use it.”
Bringing technology and humanity together
For Claassen, the University of Twente is the perfect place to explore these ideas. “Twente brings together technology and humanity. That’s exactly why I came here,” she says. She hopes the university will continue to cherish that human focus, especially in times when the world is becoming more technical and economic. “We must remember that the human dimension isn’t something soft or secondary; it’s the essence of innovation.”
Alongside her doctoral research, Claassen is working with a colleague on EthicEdge, a new initiative that brings African perspectives on AI ethics to businesses and students in South Africa. “We want to bridge academic thinking and practice,” she says. “The ideas we develop here should flow back to the communities they are meant to serve.”
Continuing the conversation
For anyone interested in exploring the future of technology further, the University of Twente is launching Algorithms for All this month. Developed by Kristy Claassen and Udipta Boro, in collaboration with the Digital Society Institute (DSI), the series brings together researchers, students and professionals to discuss the role of algorithms in our everyday lives.
From education and work to climate, health and safety, each session creates space for exchange, reflection and new perspectives. “It’s an open invitation,” says Claassen, “to explore together how technology can truly serve people and society.”
The sessions take place between 4 November and 2 December on the University of Twente campus.
Find more information and the full programme on the website.
