When: October 18, 2025 (Saturday), 18:30-22:30
Where: Madrid, Spain
They make decisions on our behalf. They simplify and streamline our daily lives. Yet we might not even notice we heavily rely on them. This speech is about algorithms.
At the heart of today’s digital world, algorithms guide decisions in healthcare, transportation, finance, and even personal entertainment. They streamline processes, boost efficiency, and personalise our experiences, making life more convenient in countless ways.
Yet, as algorithms become increasingly influential, concerns arise about their potential dangers. As highlighted in Cathy O’Neil’s book: “Weapons of Math Destruction”, unchecked algorithms can reinforce biases, threaten data privacy, and make opaque decisions that deeply impact individuals and societies. O’Neil presents several striking real-world examples, such as teacher evaluations, college admissions, credit scoring, and algorithms used to predict the likelihood of reoffending in the criminal justice system—all drawn from the United States.
However, I suspect Europe is not immune to the revolution of algorithms. Are there similar cases here? Join me for this salon, and let’s find out.