Summary: Weapons of Math Destruction — How Algorithms and Big Data Exacerbate Inequality and Undermine Democratic Institutions

Description

* Our summary is short, simple and pragmatic. It allows you to have the essential ideas of a big book in less than 30 minutes.

By reading this summary, you will discover that mathematical models, and more particularly algorithms coupled with information systems, may increase inequalities and threaten democracies.

You will also discover that :

mathematical models are not neutral, but hide ideologies and personal interests;
algorithms promise efficiency and lowest cost, but increase inequalities and injustices;
mathematical formulas affect your life choices;
your personal data are weapons used by the giants of Tech.
At a time when algorithms are king, the decisions that affect your life – which school to go to, which loan to take out – are no longer made by humans, but by mathematical models. In theory, this should promote fairness: everyone is judged by the same level of value. Mathematician Cathy O’Neil argues the opposite. These opaque, unregulated models can cause irreparable damage, like the mortgage payments of American households during the subprime crisis in 2007. Worse: they accentuate discrimination. For example, a student from a modest background who cannot obtain a loan – too risky – will never have access to quality education. These mathematical models support the lucky ones and disadvantage the oppressed: welcome to the dark side of big data, the exponential growth of digital data!

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