A provocative new book called “Weapons of Math Destruction” has inspired some charged headlines. “Math Is Racist,” one asserts. “Math Is Biased Against Women and the Poor,” declares another. But author Cathy O’Neil’s message is more subtle: Math isn’t biased. People are biased. Dr. O’Neil, who received her Ph.D in mathematics from Harvard,...
Algorithms are subject to the bias of people that use them , according to Dr Cathy O’Neil . The former Wall Street quant , who received a PhD in mathematics from Harvard , has written a book about how people discriminate expressing concern about mathematical models that rank or exclude individuals , institutions or places . In one chapter she describes how drivers in Florida with a clean driving record but poor credit scores are paid an average of $ 1,552 more than drivers with high - school credit and a drink - driving conviction .