I was curious about what the words beneath the first page said. I uploaded the image to o1, asked it to extract the words, then come up with what they would likey say, and then finally to use them as a topic for its own Computer Mandate. This is what it came up with:

---

THE COMPUTER MANDATE

[…] too little authority does not […]

[…] social environment […]

[…] overshadowed or re‑directed by line management […]

[…] with too little responsibility and too little accountability […]

[…] to perform as pre‑directed by the programmer whenever instructed to do so […]

---

---

THE COMPUTER MANDATE

In an environment where a manager has too little authority, they cannot effectively use the tools required to take advantage of the social and organizational structures around them. Their decisions quickly become overshadowed or re‐directed by line management. With too limited responsibility—and insufficient accountability to match—such a manager is often reduced to implementing whatever has been pre‐programmed or instructed, rather than exercising genuine judgment.

A computer itself, by definition, does only what it has been programmed to do whenever instructed. It lacks the moral and ethical faculties to hold itself accountable for outcomes. For that reason, a computer should never hold the power to make a management decision. As a tool, it can facilitate planning and analysis, but the responsibility—and thus accountability—must always remain where it belongs: with human leadership.

---

---

THE COMPUTER MANDATE

1. Purpose and Tool-Like Nature

A computer—be it a simple office processor or a complex artificial intelligence—is fundamentally a tool created by humans, for humans. Its purpose is to augment our capacity for computation, data analysis, and decision-support. It lacks inherent moral or ethical agency and, therefore, cannot be expected to be accountable for any outcomes tied to its functionality.

2. Accountability Resides with Humans

No matter how advanced machine learning or AI algorithms become, responsibility and accountability must remain within the realm of human decision-makers. While a computer program can provide recommendations, predictions, and valuable data-driven insights, ultimately it is the role—and the duty—of human managers and leaders to make final determinations.

3. Ethical Use of Technology

Computers should be employed with clear ethical guidelines, such as those championed by researchers and leading tech organizations worldwide:
• Transparency: Algorithms and processes must be as transparent as possible so humans can understand how recommendations or outputs arise.
• Fairness and Bias Mitigation: Systems must be regularly tested for biased outcomes and adjusted to promote equity, avoiding discrimination or harm to individuals or groups.
• Privacy and Security: User data protection must be integral, with stringent safeguards against misuse or unauthorized access.

4. Informed Delegation of Tasks

Though computers may execute certain operations more quickly and accurately than humans, they do so within the constraints of their programming and training data. Thus, while it is common to delegate data processing or logistic calculations to computer systems, strategic decisions—those that involve moral, ethical, or nuanced judgments—should not be relegated solely to a machine.

5. Human Oversight of Automated Processes

Increasingly, automated systems can act with minimal human intervention. Yet these processes must be overseen and audited by qualified individuals or teams who can verify that outputs conform to relevant codes of conduct and societal values. In high-stakes fields such as finance, healthcare, and criminal justice, rigorous human review is essential to prevent harmful outcomes.

6. Continuous Improvement and Literacy

In a rapidly changing technological landscape, managers, programmers, and end-users alike must regularly update their computer and AI literacy. This ensures that all parties understand the technology’s limitations as well as its capabilities. Such knowledge drives more responsible, accountable, and ethically grounded technology deployment.

7. Computers as Partners, Not Replacements

While a computer can offer remarkable assistance—from sifting through vast data sets to providing simulations of potential scenarios—its role is to inform and support human decisions, not replace them. In cases that demand empathy, creativity, or moral reasoning, humans must always be the arbiters.

Conclusion:

A computer, by definition and function, can never be fully accountable for decisions, as it lacks the innate capacity to understand moral implications. Therefore, no matter how sophisticated technology becomes, we must ensure that true accountability and decision-making authority remain vested in human hands. Computers are indispensable tools—but they must remain tools, guided by ethical oversight and human responsibility.

---