

#3978
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.
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
Michael Lewis , highlighting its discussion on how math is used to disguise exploitation.


354 snips
Episode 10: “Anybody Can Win, but Everybody’s Gonna Lose”
Mentioned by 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
Brian Christian as a book addressing ethical concerns within the machine learning community.


#92 – Brian Christian on the alignment problem
Mentioned by Chris Wiggins as a blossoming literature about challenges involving data-empowered algorithms.

The power of data: ethics, politics, and public interest
Mentioned when discussing algorithmic agency and how data and algorithms can be misused.

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