Technology and the Public Interest

Books, essays, and commentary from John Palfrey

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Books

Wired Wisdom

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The Connected Parent

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Born Digital

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Commentary from John Palfrey

  • Notes from AI Action Summit in Delhi, India, February 2026

    It’s been a long time since I sat down to write a blog post like this. Why did I open my computer this morning and log in to WordPress? Somewhat to my surprise, a few people who saw I had been to Delhi, India, for the AI Impact Summit asked me if I would report…

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  • Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online (forthcoming, University of Chicago Press, 2025)

    Eszter Hargittai and I have been working on a book project for the past few years about how older people use new technologies. We’ve been delighted to partner with editor Joe Calamia and his team at the University of Chicago Press. This week, they told us it will be on the Spring, 2025 list–through peer…

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  • Concord Free Public Library 150th Anniversary Celebration

    John Palfrey, MacArthur Foundation, October 1, 2023 To all the people of Concord, Massachusetts, and particularly to the town’s fabulous library staff and supporters: congratulations on your 150th anniversary! Thank you for the honor of inviting me to share a few thoughts on this historic day, in this historic place. We should pause when things go…

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  • Investing in the Arts–in Chicago and Beyond

    The International Council of the Museum of Modern Art Prepared RemarksThe Arts Club, Chicago, IL, April 2023 I too have called Chicago home for nearly four years now, since I was appointed President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. While MacArthur is rooted in our hometown, Chicago, we are proud of our…

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  • City Club of Chicago Address, Summer 2021

    Prepared Remarks City Club of Chicago, July 28, 2021 Thank you, Jacki, for your kind introduction. And thanks to the City Club of Chicago for inviting me to speak at this virtual luncheon. I wish of course we were all together in person, having a nice pasta at Maggiano’s, but that will come in due…

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  • 2021 World Health Day Keynote, University of Chicago

    World Health Day Keynote Address Center for Global Health, University of Chicago John Palfrey, April 7, 2021 Thank you, Dr. Olopade, for your kind introduction. Thanks to Dean Gorman-Smith and all of you at the University of Chicago Center for Global Health for inviting me to speak this morning in honor of World Health Day.…

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  • 2021 Klinsky Lecture, Harvard Law School

    Klinsky Lecture: Technology in the Public InterestHarvard Law SchoolApril 2021John Palfrey Thank you, Dean Manning, for your kind introduction and for the opportunity to serve as the Klinsky Visiting Professor of Practice for Leadership and Progress in this auspicious year. It is such a treat to be back with all of you at Harvard Law…

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  • International Women’s Day 2021

    I was very pleased to be able to join Hafsat Abiola, CEO of Women in Africa, to celebrate International Women’s Day for 2021. The video is posted. My fellow panelists were His Excellency Prof. Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria and Dr. Hassan El Shabrawishi, CEO of AXA in Africa. It was good to be able…

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  • Recent books I’ve learned from (Fall 2020)

    In my previous job (at Andover), I created a list of a few books every term that we would offer to the faculty as “community reads” on what we called the Head of School’s Bookshelf. We set up a bookshelf in the HOS office and distributed as many copies as faculty would like to read.…

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  • New book coming out: The Connected Parent

    With my friend and collaborator Urs Gasser, I have a new book coming out this fall — The Connected Parent: An Expert Guide to Parenting in a Digital World. It’s a close cousin of our previous book, Born Digital: How Children Grow Up in a Digital Age.  In this new book, we apply the findings…

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  • Thirtieth Anniversary of Andover’s GSA and Trans Rights

    This weekend, the Andover community celebrates the thirtieth annual weekend gathering of the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (G.S.A.).  This important milestone merits attention and reflection.  The G.S.A. has played a central role in supporting students (and adults, for that matter) of all genders and sexualities on campus at Andover. This week also marks the publication by the…

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  • Remarks at Richard T. Greener Quadrangle Dedication

    Richard T. Greener Quadrangle dedication September 29, 2018 John Palfrey, Head of School, Phillips Academy Welcome students and parents, faculty and staff, trustees and alumni to the Richard T. Greener Quadrangle. Thank you, Linda Carter Griffith, for blazing your own trail as the first Assistant Head of School for Equity, Inclusion and Wellness—not only at…

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