First Blog

The Dark Side of Big Data, IV – Deadly Algorithms It is important to look in advance of the information, to establish what is possible before the possibility becomes reality. Every truth discovered begins as a possibility. The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data is that it takes the human out of the decision process.   The promised truth of AI (the algorithms) in tandem with big data is better analysis, faster execution of decisions, safer driving, correct diagnoses, or whatever lies on the table.   What could be bad about that? Everyone has heard of algorithmic data analysis with built-in triggers for action.   The most prominent example is with the stock market.   Algorithms are so entrenched within the buy-sell patterns, many brokerage firms are now controlled by news reports and financial input for potential transactions. Oil problems in the Middle East signals sell, and baby, they sell.   China trade deal is near signals buy, and baby, they buy. In t

Big Data and Medicine Even now servers and their machine learning algorithms are digesting as much medical data they can find.   They have now learned to diagnose medical problems at a truly professional level.   One problem confronting the medical community now is whether to accept such diagnoses as the diagnosis.   This is not a little problem. It is a problem with repercussions across all of medicine , from the school to the courtroom.   Let’s look at a few elementary considerations. Tools will be put in the hands of the medical practitioner and physician's assistant. The patient may not even qualify to see a doctor until after this “procedure.” The doctor contradicting the diagnosis is put at legal risk.   Medical research and new procedures will be undermined. On the other hand, if the doctor goes with machine learning, he/she has a legal defense built in.  The medical schools will teach doctors to rely on the software.   This could undermine their diag