TechSequences
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Decision Pitfalls in a Big Data World
Data growth is a direct consequence of advances in technology ranging from the smartphone to the Internet of Things devices. Today, the “datasphere”, or the volume of data in the world – is estimated to be over 60 Zettabytes. We
Machine-Made Decisions: Consequences of Consistency
Automated algorithm-driven decision-making systems are increasingly replacing humans in areas as varied as HR hiring, loan applications, insurance brokerage and even routine medical diagnostics. In some contexts, such as employment,
The Hackable Home: Smart Devices, Dumb Security
From fitness trackers to connected cars, IoT (“Internet of Things”) devices have made our lives easier and more convenient. Despite their nifty features, many harbor poor design when it comes to security and privacy of the data they collect (and
Cleaning Up after Dirty Disinformation Tricks
“Falsehood flies…and the Truth comes limping after it,” wrote Jonathan Swift the Anglo-Irish writer and satirist in 1710. That was in the 18th century of course. Now in the 21st century, with the advent of the Internet, distribution platforms, and
Gaming the Players – QAnon
Have you ever wondered about the birth of bizarre conspiracy theories like QAnon on-line? And why, despite the farfetched fabric of these stories, so many people forsake their family and friends — the people they know — to join a
Paying for it in the Attention Economy
In early 1997 a UC Berkley based Theoretical Physicist wrote article in Wired Magazine, where he called “attention” the currency of the new economy. He foreshadowed its potential consequences: division, disparity of power, deepening inequality,
(How) Can we dig ourselves out of a deepfake hole?
Guest: Andrew J. Grotto The term “Deepfake” was first coined by a Reddit user who created a forum of the same name in 2017. The forum was dedicated to the creation and use of deep learning software for digitally swapping
Can advances in technology help liberate us from the grip of disinformation?
The events of the last few years have underlined that we are awash in disinformation, AND that a large swath of society believes that disinformation to be reality. But disinformation doesn’t just include easily refutable assertions,
A disinformation playbook
Like it or not – we are at war: one of information and disinformation and the stakes cannot be higher. How can we better understand and mitigate, or at least anticipate what is next in a disinformation campaign? For example,
AI — Not your average governance challenge
Guest: Carl Gahnberg The field of AI ethics is relatively new, mostly because we are just starting to grasp the implications of advances in AI and therefore decisions that may need to be made by the machines then, or by