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Ethical Product Management

When you ask people to explain ethics in a few words, many are inclined to quote Uncle Ben talking to Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man): “With great power comes great responsibility.” If you’re a humble product person who doesn’t think you have that much power, you can also think of it as “just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.” Ultimately, ethical product management means considering unintended consequences beyond outcomes and outputs.

Meanwhile, in product news, we're talking about ethics—consider applying AI in healthcare. Notion released charts, Sonos cut staff while trying to fix its app, and Flighty helps you become a more informed traveler.

The essential guide to ethics in product management: Privacy, manipulation, dark patterns, and more. Well-intentioned products and features can sometimes have unintended negative consequences that violate user privacy, encourage manipulation, or raise ethical concerns. Matt Hicks explains that product managers need to be aware of major ethical issues like privacy, persuasive design, dark patterns, algorithmic bias, and more.

Ethical product strategy: The Business Case You Can’t Afford To Ignore. Most of us feel like we’re good people doing the right things for the right reasons, and at the same time, we know there are organizations in the world that aren’t living that ethos. So, how are all these good people getting tangled up in bad deeds? In this episode of The Product Manager Podcast, Hannah Clark is joined by Samantha Gonzalez—Associate Director of Product Strategy at DockYard, Inc.—to talk about her intriguing journey and her innovative approach to team-building.

Responsible thinking for product managers – expert advice and steps for success. So many missed that a profanity filter would prevent the residents of Scunthorpe from creating an AOL account, that the use of sat navs could ruin previously quiet streets for their residents, or that a social network for university students would end up interfering with democracy. Building responsibly isn’t a headline topic for every product manager. Eira Hayward shares what several practicing product managers and product leaders think responsible thinking for product managers looks like.

Deep-Dive: Ethical Product Management. As digital products become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, shaping behaviors and influencing societies, the ethical implications of these creations have never been more profound or far-reaching. From social media platforms that can sway public opinion to AI systems that make decisions affecting millions, the products we build can transform the world—for better or worse. Mike Belsito explores the multifaceted nature of ethical product management, providing frameworks, insights, and practical approaches for navigating this complex terrain.

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It's time to talk about AI ethics.

If you’re working in tech, chances are – in the past year or two, your company started to build an “AI Strategy.” Maybe it includes chatbots that can write sonnets, algorithms that can predict the next big thing – or any number of things. It’s exciting stuff. But with great AI power comes excellent ethical responsibility.

​I just read this recent article from Harvard Business Review, and it got me thinking. We've been approaching AI ethics like it's one-size-fits-all, but that's about as effective as trying to fit everyone in the same pair of jeans. It just doesn’t work.

Here's the deal: what's ethically cool in San Francisco might raise eyebrows in Singapore. And that algorithm you trained on Western data? When you deploy it in Mumbai, it might be as lost as a tourist without Google Maps.

So, what's a product manager to do? First, we must get accustomed to the idea that ethics isn't a checkbox – it's more like a never-ending conversation. And as a Product Manager, you're the moderator. Start by reaching out to your teams on the ground in different markets. These folks are your ethical compasses. They know the lay of the land, the cultural nuances, the unwritten rules. Tap into that knowledge. Build ethics frameworks that are as flexible and adaptable but without breaking your core principles.

And remember, this isn't just about avoiding PR nightmares (though, let’s be honest – that's a nice bonus). It's about building products that truly resonate with your users, no matter where they are. It's about earning trust, which, let's face it, is the real currency in the AI world.

So, bring up ethics next time you're in a product planning meeting. Make it part of your design process, your data strategy, your everything. Because in the Wild West of AI, the product managers who can navigate the ethical landscape will be the ones striking gold.

Trust me, your future self (and your users) will thank you.

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In 31 days, 100s of product people from around the world will gather in Cleveland, Ohio, for INDUSTRY: The Product Conference. Here's the event in numbers:

• 2 day experience (3 days with optional 4hr workshop) allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the world of product.
• ​12 keynotes exploring everything from the impact of AI to behavioral science.
• 4 breakout talks by front-line product management experts.
• 10 roundtable discussions with your product peers.
• 2 interactive 1 hour working sessions digging deep into AI and customer research.
• World-class event with a 60+ NPS score year over year.

Resources and news curated by Kent J. McDonald.