Summary of Weapons of Math Destruction

Written by data scientist, Cathy O'Neil, "Weapons of Math Destruction" is a book examining the implications of algorithms and big data on our lives. It focuses on how algorithms and automated processes can often disproportionately or unfairly target certain people or populations, such as the impact of algorithmic hiring decisions and automated credit scoring. O'Neil looks at many case studies of how algorithms and data have been misused or misunderstood in order to explore the real-world consequences of unchecked "Math-ification" and automation. The book ultimately argues for a greater role of transparency and ethics in the design of algorithmic models.