Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy

By Cathy O'Neil

Categories: Computers & Technology, Politics & Social Sciences

Cathy O'Neil, a mathematician who once worked as a quantitative analyst on Wall Street, examines the algorithms that increasingly decide who gets into school, who is hired, who receives a loan and how much people pay for insurance. O'Neil contends that many of these models are opaque, unregulated and impossible to contest even when they are wrong, and that they reinforce discrimination, rewarding the fortunate and punishing the poor while undermining democracy.

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• Seth Godin: “Given the power of invisible and leveraged algorithms, it’s essential that they be created and maintained by people who understand that they’re responsible for the impact they make. More on this here and here.”