Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world

http://www.ted.com Kevin Slavin argues that we're living in a world designed for -- and increasingly controlled by -- algorithms. In this riveting talk from TEDGlobal, he shows how these complex computer programs determine: espionage tactics, stock prices, movie scripts, and architecture. And he warns that we are writing code we can't understand, with implications we can't control.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate.

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  Science & Technology

[djvonbonjerry]

the wink... I feel soo violated! D:

[jnadke]

I think you missed the presenter's point.

His point is the algorithms are no longer just shaping our digital domain, but also our physical world.

We're hollowing out places where *people can live* -- and once lived -- to make "homes" for the algorithms to do their thing.

[Shweta Mahajan]

Agreed! He's such a hottie in a strange, mind-boggling way...

[Michael Caissie]

His voice reminds me of Carl Sagan

[eurohim]

I thought the photo at the beginning looked altered. I guess you develop that eye after a while.

[mohamedseleem]

the only way to even begin to rationalize this, is to accept capitalism as nature. the man is presupposing money as if it were a law of physics, while in actuality his presentation stands as a grand indictment of the lunacy and horror that is, our CHOSEN form of social organization.

[swatcat95]

This is so beautiful .

[Blair Page]

110 people were taught by the American school system to skim for information, rather than comprehend it.

[danfromabove]

This is such a sickness. Reorganising the living connections of the planet to better serve the extractive desires of 0s and 1s is suicidally ignorant of reality. The encoded desire of the financial algorithm is to ensure a return on investment to cover the interest at the root of debt based money. The only way to do so is to convert more non-monetary systems (ecology, mineral deposits, human interactions) into digits and algorithms. This virus requires infinite growth. On a finite planet.

[Andrew Ellul]

Hi everyone, I've started a blog to record and share all the talks/articles and books I find similar to these talks. My goal is to share this brilliant information and make sure as many people as possible know about RSA, TED talks and any others out there. If you love to learn from these inspiring people and are interested in finding more talks/videos/articles similar to this one, I'd love to share what I find with you :D howtheothersidethinks.blogspot­.com

Thanks ;)