Kate Cox, Ars Technica; NYC wants a chief algorithm officer to counter bias, build transparency
"It takes a lot of automation to make the nation's largest city run, but
it's easy for that kind of automation to perpetuate existing problems
and fall unevenly on the residents it's supposed to serve. So to
mitigate the harms and ideally increase the benefits, New York City has
created a high-level city government position essentially to manage
algorithms."
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Anti-harassment policy raises First Amendment questions; University of Pittsburgh University Times, November 18, 2019
Marty Levine, University of Pittsburgh University Times; Anti-harassment policy raises First Amendment questions
"Members of the University Senate’s Faculty Affairs committee say they have met with University officials and voiced concerns that a proposed new anti-harassment measure may potentially stifle classroom discussion and require the entire Pitt community to report suspicious speech to University authorities.
After the meeting, the policy was pulled from a vote before Faculty Assembly."
"Members of the University Senate’s Faculty Affairs committee say they have met with University officials and voiced concerns that a proposed new anti-harassment measure may potentially stifle classroom discussion and require the entire Pitt community to report suspicious speech to University authorities.
After the meeting, the policy was pulled from a vote before Faculty Assembly."
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Why Business Leaders Need to Understand Their Algorithms; Harvard Business Review, November 19, 2019
Mike Walsh, Harvard Business Review; Why Business Leaders Need to Understand Their Algorithms
"Leaders will be challenged by shareholders, customers, and regulators on what they optimize for. There will be lawsuits that require you to reveal the human decisions behind the design of your AI systems, what ethical and social concerns you took into account, the origins and methods by which you procured your training data, and how well you monitored the results of those systems for traces of bias or discrimination. Document your decisions carefully and make sure you understand, or at the very least trust, the algorithmic processes at the heart of your business.
Simply arguing that your AI platform was a black box that no one understood is unlikely to be a successful legal defense in the 21st century. It will be about as convincing as “the algorithm made me do it.”"
"Leaders will be challenged by shareholders, customers, and regulators on what they optimize for. There will be lawsuits that require you to reveal the human decisions behind the design of your AI systems, what ethical and social concerns you took into account, the origins and methods by which you procured your training data, and how well you monitored the results of those systems for traces of bias or discrimination. Document your decisions carefully and make sure you understand, or at the very least trust, the algorithmic processes at the heart of your business.
Simply arguing that your AI platform was a black box that no one understood is unlikely to be a successful legal defense in the 21st century. It will be about as convincing as “the algorithm made me do it.”"
One Quality All Library Leaders Must Have | Leading From the Library; Library Journal, November 19, 2019
Steven Bell, Library Journal; One Quality All Library Leaders Must Have | Leading From the Library
"BE MORE THAN CURIOUS
In his article “How to Think Like a CEO,” [Adam] Bryant shares insights on what leaders need to succeed based on over 500 interviews with diverse leaders across a wide swath of for-profit and nonprofit organizations. In trying to figure out the one common element among all these individuals, Bryant came up with a single, most essential quality. He calls this “applied curiosity.” Bryant says leaders who have it:
While Bryant acknowledges the value of more commonly cited leadership qualities such as trust, honesty, emotional intelligence, and humility, the reason he values applied curiosity so much above others is what one leader described as the “infinite learning curve.” Good leaders must certainly demonstrate those other qualities, but the ability to question and constantly ask how to improve is the difference maker. That’s why it resonated strongly with me and connected with the importance of always striving to seek out new mysteries rather than satisficing with what’s always worked or doing things the same way because that’s how it’s always been done. Bryant questions whether applied curiosity, like leadership itself, is something people are born with or can learn. There are behaviors librarians on the leadership track can adopt, particularly pattern seeking or trend exploring, that can make applied curiosity more of a mindset."
"BE MORE THAN CURIOUS
In his article “How to Think Like a CEO,” [Adam] Bryant shares insights on what leaders need to succeed based on over 500 interviews with diverse leaders across a wide swath of for-profit and nonprofit organizations. In trying to figure out the one common element among all these individuals, Bryant came up with a single, most essential quality. He calls this “applied curiosity.” Bryant says leaders who have it:
Engage in relentless questioning to
understand how things work. And then they start wondering how those
things could be made to work better. They approach everything with an
inquiring mind-set—whether it’s making sense of shifting consumer habits
or the global macroeconomic trends that are shaping their industry.
While Bryant acknowledges the value of more commonly cited leadership qualities such as trust, honesty, emotional intelligence, and humility, the reason he values applied curiosity so much above others is what one leader described as the “infinite learning curve.” Good leaders must certainly demonstrate those other qualities, but the ability to question and constantly ask how to improve is the difference maker. That’s why it resonated strongly with me and connected with the importance of always striving to seek out new mysteries rather than satisficing with what’s always worked or doing things the same way because that’s how it’s always been done. Bryant questions whether applied curiosity, like leadership itself, is something people are born with or can learn. There are behaviors librarians on the leadership track can adopt, particularly pattern seeking or trend exploring, that can make applied curiosity more of a mindset."
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
The collapse of the information ecosystem poses profound risks for humanity; The Guardian, November 19, 2019
Lydia Polgreen, The Guardian; The collapse of the information ecosystem poses profound risks for humanity
"When the scientists behind the Doomsday clock published their yearly assessment of how close we are to planetary doom, they added a new dimension to the dual threats of nuclear proliferation and climate change, namely “the intentional corruption of the information ecosystem on which modern civilization depends”.
What we’ve seen in recent years isn’t just the collapse of informational authority. It is the destruction of the pact between the purveyors of quality information and the businesses that wanted to reach the consumers of that information...
Just as companies decarbonize their businesses, they should think carefully about how they contribute to the destruction of our information ecosystem and choose to reach consumers on platforms that slow rather than increase the pace of information ecosystem collapse."
"When the scientists behind the Doomsday clock published their yearly assessment of how close we are to planetary doom, they added a new dimension to the dual threats of nuclear proliferation and climate change, namely “the intentional corruption of the information ecosystem on which modern civilization depends”.
What we’ve seen in recent years isn’t just the collapse of informational authority. It is the destruction of the pact between the purveyors of quality information and the businesses that wanted to reach the consumers of that information...
Just as companies decarbonize their businesses, they should think carefully about how they contribute to the destruction of our information ecosystem and choose to reach consumers on platforms that slow rather than increase the pace of information ecosystem collapse."
Protect your restaurant’s intellectual property; The Miami Herald, Novermber 18, 2019
Andrew Cromer, The Miami Herald; Protect your restaurant’s intellectual property
"What if I told you that the most valuable piece of your restaurant wasn’t the dollars and cents that flow inward from customer transactions? You certainly take the appropriate precautionary measures to safeguard the money inside your restaurant, but why leave “the safe open” when it comes to arguably your most valuable asset? Of course, we’re talking about your restaurant’s intellectual property!"
"What if I told you that the most valuable piece of your restaurant wasn’t the dollars and cents that flow inward from customer transactions? You certainly take the appropriate precautionary measures to safeguard the money inside your restaurant, but why leave “the safe open” when it comes to arguably your most valuable asset? Of course, we’re talking about your restaurant’s intellectual property!"
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Giant Publisher Macmillan Goes To War Against Libraries; TechDirt, November 15, 2019
Mike Masnick, TechDirt; Giant Publisher Macmillan Goes To War Against Libraries
"In September, librarians around the US launched a campaign -- ebooksforall.org urging Macmillan to rethink this awful plan:
"In September, librarians around the US launched a campaign -- ebooksforall.org urging Macmillan to rethink this awful plan:
This embargo limits libraries’ ability to provide access to information for all. It particularly harms library patrons with disabilities or learning issues. One of the great things about eBooks is that they can become large-print books with only a few clicks, and most eBook readers offer fonts and line spacing that make reading easier for people who have dyslexia or other visual challenges. Because portable devices are light and easy to hold, eBooks are easier to use for some people who have physical disabilities.
Macmillan is the only major publisher restricting public libraries’ ability to purchase and lend digital content to their communities. Before the embargo took effect, we collected 160,000 signatures from readers who urged Macmillan not to go through with their plan. And we delivered these signatures in person to CEO John Sargent. Sadly, he did not listen."
Thursday, November 14, 2019
AI and gene-editing pioneers to discuss ethics at Stanford; Stanford News, November 12, 2019
Ker Than, Stanford News; AI and gene-editing pioneers to discuss ethics at Stanford
"Upon meeting for the first time at a dinner at Stanford earlier this year, Fei-Fei Li and Jennifer Doudna couldn’t help but note the remarkable parallels in their experiences as scientists.
Both women helped kickstart twin revolutions that are profoundly reshaping society in the 21st century – Li in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and Doudna in the life sciences. Both revolutions can be traced back to 2012, the year that computer scientists collectively recognized the power of Li’s approach to training computer vision algorithms and that Doudna drew attention to a new gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 (“CRISPR” for short). Both pioneering scientists are also driven by a growing urgency to raise awareness about the ethical dangers of the technologies they helped create."
"Upon meeting for the first time at a dinner at Stanford earlier this year, Fei-Fei Li and Jennifer Doudna couldn’t help but note the remarkable parallels in their experiences as scientists.
Both women helped kickstart twin revolutions that are profoundly reshaping society in the 21st century – Li in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and Doudna in the life sciences. Both revolutions can be traced back to 2012, the year that computer scientists collectively recognized the power of Li’s approach to training computer vision algorithms and that Doudna drew attention to a new gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 (“CRISPR” for short). Both pioneering scientists are also driven by a growing urgency to raise awareness about the ethical dangers of the technologies they helped create."
Why Businesses Should Adopt an AI Code of Ethics -- Now; InformationWeek, November 14, 2019
Gary Grossman, InformationWeek; Why Businesses Should Adopt an AI Code of Ethics -- Now
"Adherence to AI ethics breeds trust
According to Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD): “To realize the full potential of [AI] technology, we need one critical ingredient. That critical ingredient is trust. And to build trust we need human-centered artificial intelligence that fosters sustainable development and inclusive human progress.” To achieve this, he adds that there must be an ethical dimension to AI use. This all underscores the urgency for companies to create and live by a responsible AI code of ethics to govern decisions about AI development and deployment.
The EU has developed principles for ethical AI, as has the IEEE, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Tencent and other countries and corporations. As these have appeared in only the last couple of years, AI ethics is very much an evolving field. There is an opportunity and critical need for businesses to lead by creating their own set of principles embodied in an AI code of ethics to govern their AI research and development to both further the technology while also helping to create a better tomorrow."
"Adherence to AI ethics breeds trust
According to Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD): “To realize the full potential of [AI] technology, we need one critical ingredient. That critical ingredient is trust. And to build trust we need human-centered artificial intelligence that fosters sustainable development and inclusive human progress.” To achieve this, he adds that there must be an ethical dimension to AI use. This all underscores the urgency for companies to create and live by a responsible AI code of ethics to govern decisions about AI development and deployment.
The EU has developed principles for ethical AI, as has the IEEE, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Tencent and other countries and corporations. As these have appeared in only the last couple of years, AI ethics is very much an evolving field. There is an opportunity and critical need for businesses to lead by creating their own set of principles embodied in an AI code of ethics to govern their AI research and development to both further the technology while also helping to create a better tomorrow."
The Ethical Dilemma at the Heart of Big Tech Companies; Harvard Business Review, November 14, 2019
"The central challenge ethics owners are grappling with is negotiating between external pressures to respond to ethical crises at the same time that they must be responsive to the internal logics of their companies and the industry. On the one hand, external criticisms push them toward challenging core business practices and priorities. On the other hand, the logics of Silicon Valley, and of business more generally, create pressures to establish or restore predictable processes and outcomes that still serve the bottom line.
We identified three distinct logics that characterize this tension between internal and external pressures..."
I'm the Google whistleblower. The medical data of millions of Americans is at risk; The Guardian, November 14, 2019
Anonymous, The Guardian; I'm the Google whistleblower. The medical data of millions of Americans is at risk
"After a while I reached a point that I suspect is familiar to most whistleblowers, where what I was witnessing was too important for me to remain silent. Two simple questions kept hounding me: did patients know about the transfer of their data to the tech giant? Should they be informed and given a chance to opt in or out?
The answer to the first question quickly became apparent: no. The answer to the second I became increasingly convinced about: yes. Put the two together, and how could I say nothing?
So much is at stake. Data security is important in any field, but when that data relates to the personal details of an individual’s health, it is of the utmost importance as this is the last frontier of data privacy.
With a deal as sensitive as the transfer of the personal data of more than 50 million Americans to Google the oversight should be extensive. Every aspect needed to be pored over to ensure that it complied with federal rules controlling the confidential handling of protected health information under the 1996 HIPAA legislation."
"After a while I reached a point that I suspect is familiar to most whistleblowers, where what I was witnessing was too important for me to remain silent. Two simple questions kept hounding me: did patients know about the transfer of their data to the tech giant? Should they be informed and given a chance to opt in or out?
The answer to the first question quickly became apparent: no. The answer to the second I became increasingly convinced about: yes. Put the two together, and how could I say nothing?
So much is at stake. Data security is important in any field, but when that data relates to the personal details of an individual’s health, it is of the utmost importance as this is the last frontier of data privacy.
With a deal as sensitive as the transfer of the personal data of more than 50 million Americans to Google the oversight should be extensive. Every aspect needed to be pored over to ensure that it complied with federal rules controlling the confidential handling of protected health information under the 1996 HIPAA legislation."
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Senior Trump official embellished résumé, had face on fake Time cover; NBC News, November 12, 2019
Dan De Luce, Laura Strickler and Ari Sen, NBC News; Senior Trump official embellished résumé, had face on fake Time cover
"A senior Trump administration official has
embellished her résumé with misleading claims about her professional
background — even creating a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it — raising questions about her qualifications to hold a top position at the State Department.
An
NBC News investigation found that Mina Chang, the deputy assistant
secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stability
Operations, has inflated her educational achievements and exaggerated
the scope of her nonprofit's work.
She
was being considered for an even bigger government job, one with a
budget of more than $1 billion, until Congress started asking questions
about her résumé."
Engineers need a required course in ethics; Quartz, November 8, 2019
Kush Saxena; Engineers need a required course in ethics
"The higher education sector cannot ignore its role in
preparing students for the future of work as quite literally the purpose
it serves. That includes integrating ethics into comprehensive computer
science curricula.
Universities like MIT are leading the way
by creating research collaborations across disciplines such as law and
government, finding ways to embed topics around the societal impact of
computing into the technical curriculum.
This type
of rigorous education shouldn’t be accessible only to students who can
get into elite universities. As more jobs require engineering skills,
all institutions—from coding boot camps to community college courses to
advanced state-funded PhD programs—need to follow suit."
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Whodunit in the Library: Someone Keeps Hiding the Anti-Trump Books; The New York Times, November 10, 2019
, The New York Times;Whodunit in the Library: Someone Keeps Hiding the Anti-Trump Books
"Ms. Ammon said she asked the caller to provide a list of books that should be in the stacks, and while the person failed to provide one, she suspects the library already has whatever might be on it.
“We serve the entire community,” Ms. Ammon said...
"Ms. Ammon said she asked the caller to provide a list of books that should be in the stacks, and while the person failed to provide one, she suspects the library already has whatever might be on it.
“We serve the entire community,” Ms. Ammon said...
Through it all, Ms. Ammon said, the
library has managed to maintain the diversity of its shelves. In the
nonfiction stacks, a book by Al Franken, the former Democratic senator,
sits right next to one by Newt Gingrich, the former Republican
congressman.
“The Dewey decimal system is a great equalizer,” Ms. Ammon said."
Citrus County, Fla., leaders don’t like the New York Times. That doesn’t justify keeping it out of their libraries.; The Washington Post, November 9, 2019
Anthony Marx, The Washington Post; Citrus County, Fla., leaders don’t like the New York Times. That doesn’t justify keeping it out of their libraries.
"Libraries have always been at the foundation of our democracy, existing to arm the public with the information people need to make informed decisions and reach logical conclusions. Libraries are trusted sources of this information precisely because they do not judge, reject or accept the information based on politics or opinion. They provide it, and as technology has changed over the decades, they adapt to provide it the way patrons want it.
Despite all of this, the commissioners of Citrus County chose to reject the library system’s request. I am well aware of the financial difficulties public libraries face...
"Libraries have always been at the foundation of our democracy, existing to arm the public with the information people need to make informed decisions and reach logical conclusions. Libraries are trusted sources of this information precisely because they do not judge, reject or accept the information based on politics or opinion. They provide it, and as technology has changed over the decades, they adapt to provide it the way patrons want it.
Despite all of this, the commissioners of Citrus County chose to reject the library system’s request. I am well aware of the financial difficulties public libraries face...
This
is a misguided decision. Public libraries are not in place to further
the political agenda of any party or position. Whether those holding the
purse strings favor any particular journal or not should be irrelevant.
At the New York Public Library, we offer hundreds of periodicals
from all sides of the political aisle. I will tell you that I do not
agree with the political slant of some of the papers we make available.
And that is exactly how it should be.
Libraries give members of the public the tools they need to be fully informed participants in civic society."
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Hunters Point Library Confronts Accessibility Issues; Library Journal, November 4, 2019
Lisa Peet, Library Journal; Hunters Point Library Confronts Accessibility Issues
"QPL is assessing the situation with the Department of Design and Construction and Steven Holl Architects, de Bourbon said. (As of press time, Steven Holl Architects had not responded to LJ’s request for comment.) “As we move forward with new projects,” she said, “we will be even more proactive in addressing the needs and circumstances of every single customer.”
“I hope that libraries who are working on inclusiveness can see this as a cautionary tale,” said Machones. “There clearly needs to be more oversight in all stages of planning to ensure nothing like this happens again. There needs to be opportunities for staff and the community to analyze and respond to plans at every stage. If there are members of your community that are not able to participate in input sessions, then go to them and ask them for their input. Your library will better serve the community if your plans reflect everyone in it.”
Such inclusive input might be positioned as a mandate in all aspects of service for the library, Machones suggested. “I would have regular community conversations to learn about what ways the library could improve. I also would recommend the library undergo an inclusive services assessment,” such as the Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide developed for Wisconsin Public Libraries."
"QPL is assessing the situation with the Department of Design and Construction and Steven Holl Architects, de Bourbon said. (As of press time, Steven Holl Architects had not responded to LJ’s request for comment.) “As we move forward with new projects,” she said, “we will be even more proactive in addressing the needs and circumstances of every single customer.”
“I hope that libraries who are working on inclusiveness can see this as a cautionary tale,” said Machones. “There clearly needs to be more oversight in all stages of planning to ensure nothing like this happens again. There needs to be opportunities for staff and the community to analyze and respond to plans at every stage. If there are members of your community that are not able to participate in input sessions, then go to them and ask them for their input. Your library will better serve the community if your plans reflect everyone in it.”
Such inclusive input might be positioned as a mandate in all aspects of service for the library, Machones suggested. “I would have regular community conversations to learn about what ways the library could improve. I also would recommend the library undergo an inclusive services assessment,” such as the Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide developed for Wisconsin Public Libraries."
NNS Spotlight: Nonprofit uses data research to spur change in communities; Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS), November 6, 2019
Caroline White, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS); NNS Spotlight: Nonprofit uses data research to spur change in communities
"Numbers can tell only part of a story.
They mean nothing without context.
And that’s where Data You Can Use steps in. The nonprofit works to provide useful local data so organizations can create change on a community level.
“In some of these neighborhoods, people have a fear of research because they’ve always been the subject, but they never see the results. That can be very damaging,” said Katie Pritchard, executive director and president of Data You Can Use. “If you’re only telling one part of the story, it doesn’t help anyone.”...
“We wanted to find a better way to measure the impact of what we do,” [Barb] Wesson [the outcomes manager] said. “One of the things Data You Can Use does really well that I don’t do at all is qualitative data analysis, and that’s what we needed.”"
"Numbers can tell only part of a story.
They mean nothing without context.
And that’s where Data You Can Use steps in. The nonprofit works to provide useful local data so organizations can create change on a community level.
“In some of these neighborhoods, people have a fear of research because they’ve always been the subject, but they never see the results. That can be very damaging,” said Katie Pritchard, executive director and president of Data You Can Use. “If you’re only telling one part of the story, it doesn’t help anyone.”...
“We wanted to find a better way to measure the impact of what we do,” [Barb] Wesson [the outcomes manager] said. “One of the things Data You Can Use does really well that I don’t do at all is qualitative data analysis, and that’s what we needed.”"
Josh Fiallo, Tampa Bay Times; Commissioners call New York Times ‘fake news,’ deny library funding for digital subscriptions
"Sandy Price, the advisory board chairman for the county’s libraries, told the Citrus County Chronicle
she was disappointed with the commissioners’ decision to block the
funding. She also said she was concerned with the reason behind the
blocking, specifically citing Carnahan’s comments about the New York Times being ‘fake news.’
“Someone’s
personal political view does not have a place in deciding what library
resources are available for the entire county,” Price told the Chronicle on Monday. “Libraries have to ensure all points of view are represented.”
Despite
all five commissioners railing against the request during the
commission meeting, feedback that he received in the days after caused
Commissioner Brian Coleman to loosen his stance on the request.
Coleman
originally said of the funding request: “I support President Trump. I
would say they put stuff in there that’s not necessarily verified."
Two days after the meeting, however, Coleman told The Chronicle he wanted to re-address the topic at a future meeting.
“Our decision should have been impartial, instead of having it become a personal thing," Coleman told the Chronicle."
What if "Sesame Street" Were Open Access?; Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), October 25, 2019
Elliot Harmon, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF); What if "Sesame Street" Were Open Access?
"The news of iconic children’s television show “Sesame Street”’s new arrangement with the HBO MAX streaming service has sent ripples around the Internet. Starting this year, episodes of “Sesame Street” will debut on HBO and on the HBO MAX service, with new episodes being made available to PBS “at some point.” Parents Television Council’s Tim Winter recently told New York Times that “HBO is holding hostage underprivileged families” who can no longer afford to watch new “Sesame Street” episodes.
The move is particularly galling because the show is partially paid for with public funding. Let's imagine an alternative: what if “Sesame Street” were open access? What if the show’s funding had come with a requirement that it be made available to the public?"
"The news of iconic children’s television show “Sesame Street”’s new arrangement with the HBO MAX streaming service has sent ripples around the Internet. Starting this year, episodes of “Sesame Street” will debut on HBO and on the HBO MAX service, with new episodes being made available to PBS “at some point.” Parents Television Council’s Tim Winter recently told New York Times that “HBO is holding hostage underprivileged families” who can no longer afford to watch new “Sesame Street” episodes.
The move is particularly galling because the show is partially paid for with public funding. Let's imagine an alternative: what if “Sesame Street” were open access? What if the show’s funding had come with a requirement that it be made available to the public?"
Backcountry.com breaks its silence amid trademark lawsuit controversy to apologize and say “we made a mistake”; The Colorado Sun, November 6, 2019
Jason Blevins, The Colorado Sun; Backcountry.com breaks its silence amid trademark lawsuit controversy to apologize and say “we made a mistake”
"“To be fair, this is not about Marquette Backcountry Skis. It’s about the small nonprofits, it’s about the guides and the small businesses they targeted. This has all been about the lawsuits filed against the people in front of me and the ones coming for the people behind me,” [David] Ollila said. “What we’ve witnessed here is that it takes 25 years to build a business and a reputation and it can be lost very quickly with these poor decisions. I wonder how the market will react to this. I wonder if they can be forgiven.”...
“This boycott isn’t about a word,” [Jon Miller] said. “What is happening is that a corporation has a stranglehold over our culture in a battle over a word they literally don’t even own.”"
"“To be fair, this is not about Marquette Backcountry Skis. It’s about the small nonprofits, it’s about the guides and the small businesses they targeted. This has all been about the lawsuits filed against the people in front of me and the ones coming for the people behind me,” [David] Ollila said. “What we’ve witnessed here is that it takes 25 years to build a business and a reputation and it can be lost very quickly with these poor decisions. I wonder how the market will react to this. I wonder if they can be forgiven.”...
“This boycott isn’t about a word,” [Jon Miller] said. “What is happening is that a corporation has a stranglehold over our culture in a battle over a word they literally don’t even own.”"
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
How Machine Learning Pushes Us to Define Fairness; Harvard Business Review, November 6, 2019
David Weinberger, Harvard Business Review; How Machine Learning Pushes Us to Define Fairness
"Even with the greatest of care, an ML system might find biased patterns so subtle and complex that they hide from the best-intentioned human attention. Hence the necessary current focus among computer scientists, policy makers, and anyone concerned with social justice on how to keep bias out of AI.
Yet machine learning’s very nature may also be bringing us to think about fairness in new and productive ways. Our encounters with machine learning (ML) are beginning to give us concepts, a vocabulary, and tools that enable us to address questions of bias and fairness more directly and precisely than before."
"Even with the greatest of care, an ML system might find biased patterns so subtle and complex that they hide from the best-intentioned human attention. Hence the necessary current focus among computer scientists, policy makers, and anyone concerned with social justice on how to keep bias out of AI.
Yet machine learning’s very nature may also be bringing us to think about fairness in new and productive ways. Our encounters with machine learning (ML) are beginning to give us concepts, a vocabulary, and tools that enable us to address questions of bias and fairness more directly and precisely than before."
In Praise of the 5-Hour Workday, and Other ‘Radical’ Ideas; The New York Times, November 6, 2019
; In Praise of the 5-Hour Workday, and Other ‘Radical’ Ideas
Sick of round-the-clock work emails and Slack messages? Here’s some hope.
"This is why I am heartened to see stories like that of Mr. Rheingans’s short workday and, as was reported this week, Microsoft Japan’s experiments
with a four-day week during the summer (which increased its
productivity by 40 percent, according to the company). It’s not yet
clear that these innovations are exactly the right way to run technology
companies, or whether they can scale to other business contexts. But
what is right in this case is the exploratory mind-set that led to these
experiments in the first place. If like many digital knowledge workers,
you’re exhausted by endless work and flooded inboxes, the good news is
that better and more sustainable ways of producing valuable output with
your brain might be coming — if we can find enough visionaries willing
to try out “radical” new ideas about how best to get things done."
Monday, November 4, 2019
An unseemly meeting at the US Supreme Court raises ethics questions; Quartz, November 2, 2019
Ephrat Livni, Quartz; An unseemly meeting at the US Supreme Court raises ethics questions
"“A case isn’t finished until the opinion is out,” Roth noted. So, any meeting between a justice and an advocate who has expressed positions on a matter is problematic because it undermines public trust in the judge’s ability to be fair. He calls these engagements failures of a “basic ethics test” and is concerned about how commonly these failures occur...
Roth believes that everyone, whatever their political party or ideological tendencies, should be concerned about these kinds of engagements by the justices. And he doesn’t think it’s too much to ask that members of the bench not interact with the people and institutions who’ve broadcast their views in amicus briefs while those cases are open, if only to maintain that precious appearance of neutrality."
"“A case isn’t finished until the opinion is out,” Roth noted. So, any meeting between a justice and an advocate who has expressed positions on a matter is problematic because it undermines public trust in the judge’s ability to be fair. He calls these engagements failures of a “basic ethics test” and is concerned about how commonly these failures occur...
Roth believes that everyone, whatever their political party or ideological tendencies, should be concerned about these kinds of engagements by the justices. And he doesn’t think it’s too much to ask that members of the bench not interact with the people and institutions who’ve broadcast their views in amicus briefs while those cases are open, if only to maintain that precious appearance of neutrality."
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