Big-data applications might seem remote and impersonal, but the software and algorithms they use are coded by humans and therefore can reflect human error and bias. A new White House report warns that the emerging technology poses risks and opportunities.
“Properly harnessed, big data can be a tool for overcoming long-standing bias and rooting out discrimination,” U.S. CTO Megan Smith, Deputy CTO DJ Patil and Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz wrote in a blog post announcing the report, which is the second in a series on big data.
