#3155
Mentioned in 9 episodes

Weapons of Math Destruction

How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
Book • 2016
In this book, Cathy O'Neil explores the societal impact of big data algorithms, which she terms 'Weapons of Math Destruction' (WMDs).

These algorithms are used in various fields such as insurance, advertising, education, and policing, and they often reinforce discrimination, amplify inequality, and harm the poor.

O'Neil argues that these models are opaque, unregulated, and difficult to contest, leading to a 'toxic cocktail for democracy'.

She calls for greater responsibility from modelers and policymakers to regulate these algorithms and for the public to become more aware of their impact.

The book provides numerous examples of how these models can go wrong and emphasizes the need for ethical considerations in the use of big data models.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 9 episodes

Mentioned by
undefined
Michael Lewis
, highlighting its discussion on how math is used to disguise exploitation.
355 snips
Episode 10: “Anybody Can Win, but Everybody’s Gonna Lose”
Recommended by
undefined
Jess Ramos
as a book that changed her perspective on data and its societal impact.
60 snips
839: Double Your Data Salary in 11 Months, with Jess Ramos
Mentioned by
undefined
Hannah Fry
as a book highlighting the biases and catastrophic consequences of algorithms in society.
57 snips
#87 Hannah Fry: The Role of Algorithms
Mentioned by Kathy O'Neill, a mathematician, data scientist, and author, as a catchy and terrifying name for a book about the dangers of algorithms.
30 snips
870: Personality Tests | Skeptical Sunday
Mentioned by
undefined
Kris Brandow
when discussing AI algorithms and inherent bias.
A Discourse On AI Discourse
Recommended by
undefined
Jill Nephew
as a book providing simple examples of destructive algorithms.
THE SOUL OF A.I. #2 -- "The Great Illusion" w/ Jill Nephew
Recommended by
undefined
Andrew Hart
as an insightful read on AI and mathematical models.
65 - The Metrics That Matter
Recommended by
undefined
Sophia Rowland
as a primer on understanding the risks of AI.
The Role of Analytics in Shaping the Future of MLOps
Mentioned by
undefined
Brian Christian
as a book addressing ethical concerns within the machine learning community.
#92 – Brian Christian on the alignment problem
Mentioned by
undefined
John Strand
when discussing AI weeding out candidates in hiring processes.
Blackmailing A.I. - 2025-05-27
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Wiggins
as a blossoming literature about challenges involving data-empowered algorithms.
The power of data: ethics, politics, and public interest
Mentioned by
undefined
Kate Strachnyi
in the context of her book Mothers of Data Science.
441: Communicating Data Effectively
Mentioned when discussing algorithmic agency and how data and algorithms can be misused.
[Livestream] David Shapiro - AI, Post-Labor Economics, Futurism | Artificial Intelligence Masterclass
Mentioned by
undefined
Andrew Keen
in relation to the discussion on the dark side of technology.
Episode 2300: Sandra Matz makes the Case for a Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior
Mentioned by
undefined
David Shapiro
as relevant to the discussion on AI safety and ethics.
"Pausing AI is a spectacularly BAD idea―Here's why" - AI Masterclass

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app