The Innovation Framework: A Civil Rights Approach to AI

Technology is not innovative if it harms people or leaves anyone behind. True innovation means technology works for all of us, especially communities historically pushed to the margins. People of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, Limited English Proficient people, older individuals, religious minorities, and immigrants all deserve technology that works for them. This Framework serves as a proactive vision for how emerging technology products, tools, and services, with a focus on AI, can be rights inclusive, safe, and equitable for all people. It addresses how to ensure that emerging technologies can be trusted. Rights-based design and thoughtful creation go hand-in-hand and build a future that’s better for all. Our Innovation Framework includes a series of four core values: 1) Civil and Human Rights by Design; 2) AI Is a Tool, Not the Solution; 3) Humans Are Integral to AI; and 4) Innovation Must Be Sustainable. It also includes 10 pillars along the phases of the AI lifecycle to guide companies as they create and use AI and ensure that their technology protects civil rights, rather than violate them.