Vilas Dhar profile interview
Vilas Dhar is the President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. We recently asked Vilas a few questions for our latest Responsible Tech Guide. Read the full interview below.
“The greatest barrier isn't technological complexity, but institutional inertia. We continue to treat emerging technology as a marginal issue when it actually sits at the heart of every economic, political, and social system.”
All Tech Is Human tackles complex technology and society challenges like misinformation, hate speech, and child safety online. What do you think is the most pressing tech and society issue today?
The preparedness of our social and political institutions to keep pace with the technological systems we’ve already built. Artificial intelligence now shapes labor markets, information flows, and even the practice of democracy. Yet our governance frameworks are slow, fragmented, and rooted in an earlier industrial era. We risk a critical erosion of how we organize power, accountability, and public trust if we fail to adapt. We are challenged with an opportunity to design new institutions, global, inclusive, and responsive, that can meet this moment. That is the defining tech and society issue of our time.
Describe your current role. How does your work address complex technology and society challenges?
I serve as President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a global philanthropy dedicated to advancing AI and data for public good. Our work spans three dimensions: equipping nonprofits with AI tools and expertise, building solutions designed for purpose over profit, and investing in the governance structures that will define how societies live with technology. Philanthropy in the 21st century needs to be more than a source of capital, and act as a translator, a convener, and a partner in shaping our digital future. The role requires holding together both the promise of innovation and the responsibility to safeguard human dignity, and I take seriously the opportunity to build institutions that reflect our highest values in an age of rapid change.
What are the biggest barriers you’ve encountered in advancing responsible technology within your field, and how have you addressed them?
The greatest barrier isn't technological complexity, but institutional inertia. We continue to treat emerging technology as a marginal issue when it actually sits at the heart of every economic, political, and social system. Many leaders lack the vocabulary or frameworks to engage with moral courage. To address this, I invest heavily in translation - equipping nonprofit boards, policymakers, and global institutions with the tools to understand and act. By creating shared language and shared spaces for decision-making, we can overcome inertia and bring foresight into the center of leadership.
What does a better tech future look like to you, and how can we get there?
A better future is one where technology massively expands human potential rather than narrowing it. It means AI that strengthens democracy, that expands access to knowledge and healthcare, that allows people to live with greater economic dignity and holistic purpose. To get there, we need a radical shift in how we think about power. We must build global governance structures that align innovation with human values, invest in inclusive access to digital infrastructure, and cultivate leaders who see themselves not just as stewards of organizations but as stewards of the future.
“The reality we must confront is that for years, our debates about AI have been dominated by hype and fear, recycled narratives that misdirect our imagination and our policies.”-Vilas Dhar, The U.N.’s AI Turning Point, TIME