Episode 54 of Media Inside Out on “The Power of Algorithms” premiered on TUTV on September 20th, 2021. Watch it here!
Episode Descrption:
When it comes to discussions about computers, it is easy to feel as if all we can do is throw our hands up and say “well, computers have taken over the world”. But computers are programmed by people. Even those mind-reading, persuasive algorithms are programmed by people. There is not a robotic super being making these decisions– at least not yet. As users of computers and technology we must be more aware of how algorithms work, when they work, and why. On this episode of Media Inside Out we will discuss those issues and more with our expert guests.
Guests:
Dr. Judith Donath: Dr. Donath’s field of work focuses on the co-evolution of technology and society. During her tenure as the director of MIT Media Lab’s Sociable Media Group, Dr. Donath and her students created a world-renowned art project examining the future of identity, privacy, and mediated life. She has published numerous articles about social media, AI and anonymity. She is the author of The Social Machine: Designs for Living Online, and is currently writing a new book about technology, trust and deception.
Michael Kearns: Michael Kearns’s extensive work on algorithms has taken him across many different fields, from algorithmic trading on Wall Street to being the University of Pennsylvania’s national center chair of the Computer and Information Science. Michael’s experience led him to co-authoring a book, “The Ethical Algorithm”. He has served as an adviser to technology companies, including Amazon where he currently focuses on algorithmic fairness and privacy within their web service.