Reflections from the Pro-Human Assembly
Following up on our July pop-up event with the Project Liberty Alliance, where we shared our methodology for community-led AI audits, yesterday our Lead (Alex Magaard) had the privilege of representing Eticas Foundation at the Pro-Human Assembly in Washington, D.C.
Convened by Project Liberty and the Future of Life Institute, the gathering brought together a remarkably diverse coalition from multiple industries, ideologies, and perspectives'; a powerful continuation of the collaborative, cross-sector movement-building we’ve been deeply engaged in all summer.
Slow Movement-Building, Rapid Change
As the debate over artificial intelligence shifts rapidly from speed to safety, the event underscored a growing, cross-partisan consensus: we cannot allow public safety and human rights to take a backseat to unchecked tech expansion.
One of the most grounding takeaways for me came from Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt, who reminded us that change happens "really slowly, and then fast." He was referring to the long, foundational work of shifting public consciousness around the ethical pitfalls of technology. For those of us working every day in algorithmic auditing, policy, and advocacy, it was a welcome reminder. Changing the narrative around how automated systems impact everyday people takes patient, persistent movement-building—but once that awareness reaches a critical mass, real regulatory and cultural momentum can accelerate almost overnight.
A Unified Pro-Human Agenda
It was fascinating to sit in the room and watch leaders from entirely different corners of society—from the presidents of labor organizations like SAG-AFTRA and AFT President Randi Weingarten to conservative thought leaders at American Compass—find common ground around a shared commitment to a pro-human agenda for AI.
Major news outlets, including NPR and The Guardian, have captured the unusual political alignments and intense urgency defining this moment. Across the board, speakers emphasized the critical need for strict accountability, transparency, and independent oversight.
Restoring Control Through Community-Led Audits
Throughout the assembly, speakers and coalition members emphasized the absolute necessity of collaboration and unity over partisanship and division—centering on a core truth: the fundamental crisis threatening humans today is a widespread, systemic loss of control.
This is precisely why the Pro-Human Assembly reinforced how urgently our community-led AI audit practice is needed. At Eticas, our approach goes beyond traditional oversight. We partner directly with civil society organizations, grassroots activists, and everyday people to technically deconstruct and evaluate automated systems.
More than just monitoring, our community-led AI audits are fundamentally a capacity-building exercise. Through this work, we demystify the technology for our partners—teaching them about the underlying tech stacks, specific algorithmic features and controls, and practical ways to stress-test systems for objective real-world outcomes.
In short, our audits give people back the exact control that is so badly needed and craved right now. That is why we are calling on our alliance partners, multipliers, and changemakers across sectors to share our practice, join the coalition, and partner with us. We don't have to choose between advancing technology and protecting human rights, but securing our collective future requires putting control back into the hands of the people.
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