Data, artificial intelligence & decision making

This post was just a bit too long for an update, so it became an "article". I have to admit though, it's not quite worthy of the name.

Been reading a lot lately about the challenges and pitfalls of generating massive amounts of data – including those of the personal variety - ready to be mined for meaning to drive decision-making, it’s not that far off to imagine how A.I. may steer our businesses and lives in the most effective way. I for my part would like my gut to still count for something of course. For now a live is still an amalgam of good and bad decisions for which one currently has no one to blame for but him/herself. Google the headline and you will find plenty of interesting reading material weighing the various pro's and cons.

Then I heard this story on NPR where big data is used to optimize social behavior: What's your public credit score

Have a listen and then watch “Nosedive” episode 1 of the Channel 4 and now Netflix series Black Mirror where social ratings drive social standing and future opportunities. As exaggerated and unlikely as it feels, it's definitely effective storytelling. The Peeple app may have failed, but if Honest Shanghai is any indication the future is here. Or at least it’s peeping to gain a foothold.