Andrew Smith in The Guardian.
Franken-algorithms: the deadly consequences of unpredictable code
The death of a woman hit by a self-driving car highlights an unfolding technological crisis, as code piled on code creates ‘a universe no one fully understands’
Phi Beta Iota: The situation is grim. Not only do we have what Stephen E. Arnold calls “digital mummification” (speaking specifically of Google), but we also have predatory police-like mass surveillance algorithms (speaking specifically of Amazon which can find anyone with an outstanding warrant based on their image while using video on their smart phone), and of course flash trading and other insider trading schemes. There is a need for transparency in algorithnms, and a Center for Computational Mathematics, perhaps run by Stephen Wolfam.
