Stanford Psychology Podcast  cover image

Stanford Psychology Podcast

144 - Sandra Matz: AI, Social Media, And Data Privacy

Jan 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Sandra Matz, an Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and author of "Mindmasters," explores how AI and big data are reshaping our understanding of human behavior. She delves into the implications of AI on personal identity and privacy, addressing concerns about algorithmic targeting and echo chambers. Sandra also introduces innovative concepts like federated learning and data co-ops, emphasizing the need for collaborative data management to enhance privacy while harnessing AI's potential in areas like mental health and social connections.
54:23

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • AI and big data can predict human behavior by analyzing online activities, revealing deeper insights into personality traits and preferences.
  • The ethical implications of psychological targeting raise concerns about narrow perspectives, as algorithms could lead to echo chambers in content consumption.

Deep dives

The Impact of AI on Human Behavior

AI and big data are increasingly used to predict and shape human behavior, as highlighted by the work of researchers which draws connections between online activities and psychological profiles. An example provided in the discussion illustrates how online behaviors, such as social media interactions and purchasing patterns, can reveal deeper insights into an individual's personality traits. Powerful algorithms can now analyze these data points with unprecedented precision, allowing even a novice user to obtain meaningful psychological insights from social media posts or search history. This shift democratizes the ability to understand personality traits, but it also raises concerns about potential misuse of such information by marketers and other entities.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode