Data Unleashed: Edition #2

Welcome to my Data Unleashed newsletter – in which I share news and views on real-life data situations.?

This month I am focusing on interesting thoughts discussed during Calligo’s latest Beyond Data podcast episode. This session explores the hotly debated topic of ‘Autonomous transportation and its impact on citizen privacy’ – and safety.?

Here are three of the most fascinating points that were discussed between my colleagues Tessa Jones and Sophie Chase-Borthwick and our guest speaker Clayton Tino, CTO of Beep, Inc. - and why it’s not one to miss…?

1. The problem with the ‘trolley problem’?

An enduring controversy when it comes to autonomous vehicles is the so-called ‘trolley car/ problem’ – such as, whether an AV should hit a group of elderly people, or one child faced with no other choice. And yet, our podcast dissects why perhaps this introduces the wrong questions when it comes to AVs and safety.?

2. ‘Unrealistic expectations’ on machines?

Continuing this theme, do we expect AVs to be guaranteed safe, when we understand other vehicles will never have a 100% safety record? We ask: why do we have a higher expectation of what ‘safe’ looks like when something’s autonomous? And why are we imposing the need for predetermined decision-making on a machine, when arguably we humans don’t know what we’d do in such an emergency scenario??

?Find out more on this here and why Clayton Tino believes “We’re settling unrealistic expectations on machines because we need to blame something…”??

3. When is ‘AI for good’ not so good??

On a slightly different note, imagine offering people free bus rides in return for their personal data? This would most likely be vulnerable people who’d benefit most from not paying. Do you think this is a clever way to address socio-economic problems or does it present an ethical dilemma in which people hand over more of themselves than they want or realise???

You can watch the episode here and I look forward to sharing more next month!