Curated Commons // Edition 125
Welcome to the 125th edition of Curated Commons! Thank you for subscribing (if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for?).
Happy reading ($ indicates potential paywall).
Lack of data as indicator of inequality
Good paper from Brookings on the concept of ‘algorithmic exclusion’ - Read here
Algorithmic exclusion refers to outcomes where people are excluded from algorithmic processing, meaning that the algorithm cannot make a prediction about them. This occurs because the conditions that lead to societal inequality can also lead to bad or missing data that renders algorithms unable to make successful predictions. This paper argues that algorithmic exclusion is widespread and that its consequences are significant.
The US’s love affair with flying is ending
…claims the FT. The demand is strong, the supply is constrained, the frustrations are sky high, and the airlines have no incentive to change as they are rolling in profit. - Read here ($)
Shareholder primacy is back in action
Trust American companies to do that which serves the shareholder first and foremost. ‘Purpose’? What’s that? - Read here
On a related note, American CEOs give the best quotes - Read here ($)
In recent years, the balance of power in the labor market shifted toward workers, executives say, as companies had to aggressively lure employees. As layoffs occur, some employees might be more accommodating to the needs of companies, said Christian Ulbrich, CEO of real-estate company Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. That includes consideration about where people do their jobs.
“This whole concept of working from anywhere went too far,” Mr. Ulbrich said. “I’m all into flexibility and all supportive that work and life has to find a flexible kind of partnership…but that doesn’t translate into, ‘Mondays and Fridays, I always work from home.’ ”He added: “I think the recent trends, the layoffs, will help to bring a little bit of balance into that.”
Also, fascinating to see the difference in how American and European companies see certain areas very differently - D&I, corporate purpose, sustainability...the list is long... - Read here ($)
Whatsapp, for misleading, and informing
How do you counter misinformation? Through one of the biggest challenge that enables it - Whatsapp. Long read on how community health workers in India are leveraging Whatsapp in countering dangerous medical misinformation and misguided belief that’s rampant in India’s hinterlands - Read here
What can we learn from chimps on how humans see data?
That people are routinely far more pessimistic in their view of the world than what stats show us. - Read here ($)
ChatGPT and capitalism
Interesting interview of Sam Altman - Read here
ChaptGPT in the…courtroom
Tech tools will be used/abused in ways unintended. Exhibit #1219340 - Read here
Should we have to ‘adapt’ to tech’s externalities?
Piece that focuses on tech solutionism, but also makes an important point - how much do tech devs and designers think of the potential impacts and bake that into the design, rather than relying on users to adapt to collateral damage? - Read here
Feature for some, bug for others
Apple Watch’s latest update automatically alerts emergency services if it senses a crash. And it appears to be mistaking skiers and fitness enthusiasts to be in crashes when they are not. And one emergency services director has had enough - “Apple needs to put in their own call center if this is a feature they want” - Read here ($)
Popularity of takeout food is now impacting restaurant design and automation levels
Interesting piece on how the growing American fascination with takeout and delivery, borne out of the pandemic, is now leading to digital-only restaurants. Also, amusing how the solution is to design something around the automobile. Yet again. - Read here ($)
Quantum Computing’s round the corner. What should we know?
‘tis the start of the season for news around quantum computing and more magazines are covering it, and why it is important for companies and nations alike to start understanding it. - Read here
How do you know ChatGPT is huge?
‘Hustle bros’ are here! — Read here
Meet the world’s nanny - YouTube
The biggest earners on YouTube - Kids’ channels - Read here
The battle of the AI systems is well and truly on
Early comparisons are now coming in. - Read here ($)
Thank you for reading Curated Commons! If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues. I also welcome any feedback you may have, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter (DMs open). Thanks again, and happy reading!