Library:Weapons of Math Destruction
| Weapons of Math Destruction | |
|---|---|
| Author | Cathy O'Neil |
| First published | 2016 |
| ISBN | 978-0-553-41881-1 unverified |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Technology & Media Business, Finance & Scams |
| Tactics | Statistical & Evidentiary Distortion |
Weapons of Math Destruction is a 2016 book by Cathy O'Neil.
Summary
Cathy O'Neil, a mathematician who worked as a quantitative analyst at a hedge fund during the 2008 financial crisis, examines how algorithms and statistical models shape decisions about people's lives.
The idea
O'Neil coined the term "weapons of math destruction" for models that are opaque, operate at scale and cause damage. She argues that such models often encode existing biases and create feedback loops that reinforce them, while their mathematical appearance makes them seem objective.
Examples
The book examines teacher evaluation scores, college rankings, predatory online advertising, predictive policing, sentencing risk assessments, hiring algorithms, credit scoring and insurance pricing. In each case, O'Neil shows how proxies can stand in for what really matters, and how people harmed by a model often cannot see or challenge it.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
The book shows how numbers and algorithms can create an illusion of objectivity, a modern form of statistical distortion. It is relevant to entries on rankings, metrics and the claimed neutrality of technology.
Related entries
- Columbia University was ranked second in the nation
- Student evaluations measure teaching quality
- Library:How to Lie with Statistics