Center for Humane Technology

What It Is

The Center for Humane Technology is an independent nonprofit organization that works to make technology more aligned with human well-being. It is technically grounded and draws on insider knowledge from leaders across major technology companies and the AI ecosystem. The organization focuses on raising awareness about how digital platforms affect attention, mental health, democracy, and society, and it pushes for design changes that give users more control and transparency.

It gained widespread public attention as the producer behind the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, which exposed the manipulative design practices of major social media companies and sparked global conversation about tech addiction and algorithmic harm.

Leadership and Recent Changes

The organization was founded and is led by Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist who became one of the most visible critics of how big tech platforms exploit human psychology. Harris has been the public face of the movement toward humane technology design.

In October 2026, the Center announced it would lay off approximately half of its staff and shift away from its policy advocacy and litigation work. According to the board, the reorganization allows the organization to concentrate on projects where the founders have the strongest expertise. The decision to drop policy and legal efforts in favor of a founder-led direction has drawn mixed reactions, with some former employees expressing concern about the change in strategy.

The Center continues to operate as an independent voice pushing for accountability in the AI and social media industries.

Questions people ask

Who founded the Center for Humane Technology?

Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist, founded the organization. He became widely known as a critic of how social media and AI platforms are designed to capture attention and manipulate behavior.

What is the Center for Humane Technology best known for?

It is best known for producing the 2020 documentary The Social Dilemma, which examined the harmful effects of social media algorithms on mental health, democracy, and society.

What happened at the Center for Humane Technology in 2026?

In October 2026, the Center laid off about half its staff and decided to end its policy and litigation work. The board said the move would let the organization focus on what the founders do best, though the decision has sparked debate among former employees.