POLICY · REGULATION · #1708
Center for Humane Technology lays off staff, ends litigation and AI-evaluation work to go “founder-led”
The Center for Humane Technology (CHT) is laying off about half of its 16 non-founder employees (nine departures, including executive director Julie Guirado and senior director Camille Carlton) and will stop policy research, litigation support, and AI-tool evaluation to focus on “founder-led” efforts led by Tristan Harris such as public education, targeted briefings, and private coordination, the board said. The change follows recent courtroom wins tied to CHT research and reflects internal debate over whether to operate as an advocacy outfit fronted by Harris or as a policy think tank.
KEY POINTS
- The Center for Humane Technology (CHT) is laying off about half of its 16 non-founder employees (nine departures, including executive director Julie Guirado and senior director Camille Carlton) and will stop policy research, litigation support, and AI-tool evaluation to focus on “founder-led” efforts led by Tristan Harris such as public education, targeted briefings, and private coordination, the board said.
- The change follows recent courtroom wins tied to CHT research and reflects internal debate over whether to operate as an advocacy outfit fronted by Harris or as a policy think tank.
- The shift reduces CHT’s capacity for litigation and independent AI-tool evaluation while concentrating influence around Tristan Harris, altering who and how AI risks are advocated for in policy and public debate.
WHY IT MATTERS
The shift reduces CHT’s capacity for litigation and independent AI-tool evaluation while concentrating influence around Tristan Harris, altering who and how AI risks are advocated for in policy and public debate.