Douglas Rushkoff

Undoing Dystopia: a Review of Douglas Rushkoff’s Team Human

A review of tech and social critic Douglas Rushkoff’s latest book, Team Human.

Black Box

When Developers Can’t Explain Their AI, Laws No Longer Apply

The hows and whys of the decisions of machine-learning algorithms are increasingly opaque, even to their programmers. That makes laws and norms increasingly difficult to apply.

Mix Tape

Spotify Automates; Humans Get Played

When Spotify’s music algorithms lead one writer to a band he can’t stand that he loves, he wonders about who’s programming who.

Cathy O'Neil

Podcast #14: Cathy O’Neil on the problem of algorithms

Mathematician Cathy O’Neil shares her insider’s look at how algorithms are gaming our world, with terrible consequences for those who can least afford them.

Superman and the Singularity

A recent discussion of the AI film Ex Machina brings up ideas about the desire for the perfectability of humans and our irresistable urge to play god.

Want to Borrow Money? Then Let a Credit Startup Read Your Email

New online lenders promise funds for previously-ignored groups. The catch? Borrowers have to allow them to spy on everything they do and everyone they associate with.

The Suicide Algorithm: Facebook’s Self-Appointed Role in Mental Health

Facebook’s invasive attempts to identify suicidal individuals, while collecting revenue from advertisers targeting them, may do more harm than good.

Robot AI Job Line

Speeding Towards a Potential AI Jobocalypse, Government is on Autopilot

A White House paper on AI betrays a stunning naivte about potential economic fallout, but few in government are interested in even acknowledging the issue.