LSE Data Science Institute’s Post

On this week's episode of Click to Trust 🎙 we spoke to computational sociologist Tom Davidson. Join us as we uncover the deep influences of social media on politics and dive into the complex issues surrounding AI-generated content. If you’re interested in the intersection of technology, politics, and society, this one’s for you! We discuss: 👉 The unique advantages populist parties derive from platforms like Facebook and Twitter. 👉 How social media algorithms may inadvertently boost populist messaging. 👉 The ongoing need for rigorous independent research to understand social media's full impact on global politics. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts! https://lnkd.in/dt6pZfzq

On the latest "Perspectives" episode, I talked with Staff Writer at The Ankler, Elaine Low. We spoke about the state of the entertainment and media industries, AI, Hollywood, and finding ways to juggle work/life. https://lnkd.in/eVbKdYt5

Check out our latest blog post on the topic of Surrender and Data Science. How do you practice surrender in life and business? #Surrender #DataScience #ShuHaRi

In episode 7 of the Conquer Your Mountains podcast, we delve into the intersection of wisdom and the age of artificial intelligence. In this era of accessible digital information, how can you distinguish between the knowledge you receive and the wisdom you need to make sound decisions? Mandla and Amanda discuss the gaps between intelligence, experience, and wisdom in decision making. Applying the context of AI, and some adventurous AI-generated answers, they explore how our reliance on technology can complement our search for wisdom. Mandla also highlights a research study exploring the role of wisdom and courage in employee behavior, proving further the necessity of these elements in the decision-making processes. Moreover, he advises listeners who may feel trapped due to unwise decisions, emphasizing the importance of perspective and courage to move ahead. Interesting note: AI was used to help generate questions, create example answers, draw an image and edit this episode. Click here to access the podcast in a platform of your choice, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts https://tr.ee/Kz8U7B2wiq    The podcast is free and is an optional companion series to the book “Conquer Your Mountains”, which can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/dhha-mz7     Reference Balas Rant, M. (2023). The Impact of Wisdom and Courage on Presencing and Absencing at Work: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness. Economic and Business Review, 25(2), 64-78.  

I have been listening to @mogawdat's Slow Mo podcast for quite some time. He is one of my favourite contemporary intellectuals. Recently, I listened to his 2020 book "Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World." I cannot recommend it enough. Snippets won't give it justice. The entire book must be read. https://lnkd.in/ervi7u4H

One of the best interviews of Kahneman. He believes that there are no inherent limitations to what AI can accomplish compared to human skills and that it has the potential to outperform humans in various domains. #AI4All Rohit Bansal https://lnkd.in/gAGw7vWx "So what is going to happen in the world of AI is absolutely fascinating. I wish I could be there to see it." Q: Well, it's happening fast enough that that may well come true. I know it's impossible and probably antithetical to the way you think about things to make predictions on this, but are there kind of very human-specific skills that AI is not going to be able to replicate? DK: In principle, no. I mean, you know, all the decisions we make when we speak of being created and that the AI is not really created, I mean, creativity is a new way to assemble existing ideas in our head. All our insight, all our creative insights, they come from somewhere, and they come from the experience and from putting things together that haven't been put together before. This is not beyond the ability of AI, clearly. So I do not see anything that, in principle, AI cannot do better than people."

Stand in front of a large world map with your arms out in front of you, about shoulder length apart… Now swipe your right hand anticlockwise/ down and inwards - as you do so, you’re traversing diverse and often under-discussed parts of the world: the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa. That’s Adrian Pillay’s playground. In today’s episode of How to Lend Money to Strangers, I’m chatting to Adrian about AI, about credit data, and about how Provenir are bringing their cutting edge solutions to new and interesting markets. https://lnkd.in/eD2dzJEW

Some summer reading - Navigating Change with Shane Parish’s 'Clear Thinking' In his new book, "Clear Thinking," Shane Parish tackles the essentials of decision-making and reasoning—topics that resonate deeply as we navigate the complexities introduced by generative AI. Having been a reader of his Farnum Street newsletter, I appreciate how Parish consistently illuminates the intersections of various disciplines to enhance our understanding of these critical skills. "Clear Thinking" arrives at a crucial time. As we reflect on the future of work and AI’s impact, the book offers valuable insights into refining our thought processes to make more informed decisions. For those grappling with the rapid changes in our professional landscape, Parish provides a clear, pragmatic approach to better thinking. https://fs.blog/books/

This week’s episode is a conversation with Demis Hassabis, the head of Google’s artificial intelligence division. We talk about Google’s latest A.I. models, Gemini and Gemma; the existential risks of artificial intelligence; his timelines for artificial general intelligence; and what he thinks the world will look like post-A.G.I.