Masters in Business At The Money: Algorithmic Harm with Professor Cass Sunstein
Jun 4, 2025
Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law School professor and co-author of "Algorithmic Harm: Protecting People in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," dives into the duality of algorithms, likening their impact to Jedi versus Sith. He discusses how algorithms influence consumer behavior, shaping everything from Uber pricing to TikTok feeds, and raises concerns about cultural echo chambers. Sunstein also tackles the ethical implications of pricing in high-demand situations and argues for greater transparency and consumer awareness in the digital marketplace.
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What Is Algorithmic Harm?
- Algorithmic harm occurs when algorithms exploit consumers' lack of information or behavioral biases.
- Such exploitation can lead consumers to be duped and suffer unfair treatment in markets.
Algorithmic Cultural Balkanization
- Algorithms can create cultural partitions by reinforcing narrow preferences like musical taste.
- This balkanization stunts cultural diversity and development of individual tastes.
Algorithms Create Echo Chambers
- Algorithms increasingly funnel users into echo chambers reinforcing their existing views.
- This harms society by fragmenting understanding and reducing mutual respect.
