Tech | July 27, 2011 | 3 comments

Humanity Is Owned By Computer Algorithms and Resistance Is Futile

source: http://gizmodo.com/5824983/humanity-is-owned-by-computer-algorithms-and-resistance-is-futile

lordsbassman
Kevin Slavin gave this fascinating talk at TED about the pervasive nature of computer algorithms in society and the financial markets. It just scratches the surface of what's happening, but it's a must watch if you have 15 minutes today.

Like Kevin Slavin, years ago I had a long talk with a physicist who was an expert on fluid dynamics. He worked doing pure academic research in London. Later, he joined Renault's F1 team, using his knowledge to design better aerodynamic profiles for cars.

But back when we talked, he was still working in pure research, getting paid very little money. He told me that most of his colleagues in the lab were quickly leaving, lured by astronomic salaries. I asked him where. Canary Wharf and the City, in London. And Wall Street in New York. He told me that all of them left to work for a much more profitable industry: financial companies. They were hired to use the same principles of fluid dynamics and chaos theory to analyze the markets, predict their behavior, attack them, manipulate them and make a lot of sharks make a lot of money.

His description scared me back then. Seeing Slavin's talk just reminded me about how much are we leaving in the hands of a very few people and their machines.

-Jesus Diaz


http://gizmodo.com/5824983/humanity-is-owned-by-computer-algorithms-and-resistan...
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    Stock Market,  TEDtalks,  Wallstreet,  algorithms
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3 comments // Humanity Is Owned By Computer Algorithms and Resistance Is Futile // Video

  • Novek
    • 0
      Novek  

    • memes are the invisible forces that drive men, algorithms the invisible forces that drive machines, and the desire for life that drives both.

      You hear that Mr. Anderson?... That is the sound of inevitability... It is the sound of your death... Goodbye, Mr. Anderson...

    • 10 months ago
  • PressCore
    • +3
      PressCore  

    • Well, the Popes always have preached the rhythm method to the faithful.
      As the Italian husband told the tourist, meet rhythm #1, rhythm # 2, rhythm
      #3. Arivaderchi Roma.

    • 10 months ago
  • TrishR
    • +3
      TrishR  
    • PressCore:

      You might like this one:

      A man approached a checkpoint in Northern Ireland. The soldier asked him, "Catholic or Protestant?'

      The man replies, "Atheist."

      The soldier asks, "Catholic atheist or Protestant atheist?"

    • 10 months ago
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