Issues

Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) now offer improved predictions, which will reduce uncertainty and lead to the redesign of business strategies. AI will affect jobs, the concentration of corporate power, privacy, and politics around the world.

Algorithmic Bias? An Empirical Study of Apparent Gender-Based Discrimination in the Display of STEM Career Ads

The use of algorithms to make decisions can lead to bias; one algorithm displayed a “gender neutral” ad to more men than women. The algorithm was designed to be cost-effective; because advertisers pay more to display ads to young women, the ad was shown to fewer women.

Remedies for Robots

Robots will sometimes harm others. Legal remedies for harm compensate an injured party or punish wrong-doing. But robots are complex, and cannot be deterred from wrongdoing as humans are.

Running Out of Time: The Impact and Value of Flexibility in On-Demand Crowdwork

Workers in on-demand digital labor markets often have little control over their schedules. Giving workers more control yields more work product without loss of quality. Workers value control of their pace of work.

Demographics and Automation

Some predict that economic growth will slow in countries with rapidly aging populations. But data shows that firms respond to scarcity of middle-aged workers by automating. These firms become more productive.

The Costs of Not Using Data: Balancing Privacy and the Perils of Inaction

Some legal norms direct organizations to limit use of data, but others compel use of data to benefit the public. Data collectors may serve as information fiduciaries, obligated to act in users’ interests.

Smart Cities: Privacy, Transparency, and Community

Smart cities raise concerns about privacy, autonomy, and bias. A smart city should preserve privacy in three contexts: As a data steward, as a data platform, and as a government authority.

The Influence of Friends and Experts on Privacy Decision Making in IoT Scenarios

People find making privacy decisions about Internet of Things (IoT) devices difficult. Users’ decisions about privacy can be swayed by experts and friends.

Tech Platforms and the Knowledge Problem

Critics question the size and scope of massive firms like Amazon and Google. “Jeffersonians” and “Hamiltonians” offer complementary policy strategies to counter the failures of digital capitalism.

Techno-Policing

Technology could help make the criminal justice system more egalitarian. Technologies could reduce racially motivated police violence, racial profiling, and under-enforcement of crime in communities of color.