In an opinion piece titled "I Was Wrong about the Ethics Crisis," Vardi critiques the role of tech professionals in perpetuating what he describes as "Big Tech Surveillance Capitalism," a business model increasingly driven by artificial intelligence.

Vardi’s concerns about the tech industry’s unintended consequences are not new. In January, he published a provocative article, "Computing, You Have Blood on Your Hands!" which highlighted the societal impacts of social media and mobile computing. Now, he extends his argument, questioning the ethical responsibilities of those who design, maintain, and profit from Big Tech's business practices.

"The belief in the magical power of the free market always to serve the public good has no theoretical basis," Vardi writes, noting that societal issues like the climate crisis demonstrate clear market failures. He draws a comparison to Big Tobacco, widely regarded as an unethical industry, and challenges readers to ask: "Is Big Tech supporting the public good, and if not, what should Big Tech workers do about it?"

While acknowledging that there are no simple answers, Vardi highlights the reluctance of many in the tech workforce to grapple with such questions. Quoting political activist Upton Sinclair, he notes, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."

Vardi’s ultimate conclusion is stark: "By and large, Big Tech workers do not seem to be asking themselves hard questions, I believe, hence my conclusion that we do indeed suffer from an ethics crisis."