National: Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi inaugurated the 43rd edition of Apogee, BITS Pilani’s flagship tech festival, with a thought-provoking speech. He highlighted the growing gap between rapid technological progress and ethical accountability, emphasizing the need for a dialogue between justice and technology.
Gogoi challenged the audience to rethink the relationship between law and technology, suggesting that law should serve as a steering wheel, guiding innovation rather than acting as a brake. He advocated for a collaborative approach between lawyers, engineers, ethicists, and entrepreneurs to ensure that technology is developed with a clear moral compass.
The former Chief Justice also emphasized the importance of recognizing the inherent biases in technology, urging engineers to see their creations as embedded ideologies rather than neutral tools. He cautioned against the myth of technological neutrality, stressing that every line of code carries a hidden manifesto.
Gogoi further highlighted the need for accountability in the tech industry, noting that engineers wield significant influence without being subject to public scrutiny. He encouraged students to become “curators of consequences,” taking responsibility for the impact of their work.
In a poignant conclusion, Gogoi emphasized the importance of values in shaping the future. He urged engineers to build with intention, aligning technology with conscience and fairness. Ultimately, he reminded the audience that the future will be built by human values, not machines.
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