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Beyond ad clicks: using ‘Big Data’ for social good

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Summary

Big Data is a field of science that collects large amounts of information and makes sense of it. It was once used primarily by companies, but is now being utilized by governments and nonprofits to tackle social issues. Rayid Ghani, an expert on information retrieval and machine learning, works at the University of Chicago to lead the Eric & Wendy Schmidt Data Science for Social Good Fellowship. This program brings together bright data scientists from around the world to work with community organizations, nongovernmental organizations and governments to solve social problems. Through this program, the participants have been able to create a way for the World Bank to look for corporate collusion in development projects, a way for the Chicago Department of Public Health to pinpoint homes where children are at the highest risk of lead poisoning, and a way to improve outreach to Americans who don’t have health insurance. Ghani hopes that the fellows will leave the program with a new appreciation for what data can do.

Q&As

What is "Big Data" and how is it used?
Big Data is the science of collecting large amounts of information and making sense of it. It is used by companies to collect data about what people buy, spend, and respond to ads, and by governments and nonprofits to tackle social problems.

What did Rayid Ghani do on President Obama's re-election campaign?
Rayid Ghani was the chief scientist on President Obama's re-election campaign.

What is the purpose of the Eric & Wendy Schmidt Data Science for Social Good Fellowship?
The purpose of the Eric & Wendy Schmidt Data Science for Social Good Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for data scientists to work with community organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and governments to tackle social problems.

What projects did the fellows undertake during the program?
The fellows undertook projects such as devising a new way for the World Bank to look for corporate collusion in development projects, helping the Chicago Department of Public Health to pinpoint homes where children are at the highest risk of lead poisoning, and improving outreach to Americans who don’t have health insurance.

What is the goal of Rayid Ghani's fellowship program?
The goal of Rayid Ghani's fellowship program is to show data scientists that their skills can be helpful in solving social problems and to give them a sense of what data can do.

AI Comments

👍 This article sheds light on the potential of Big Data to tackle social problems and the important work being done by Rayid Ghani to make a difference in the world.

👎 It is concerning that data science is being used to find corporate collusion and identify high-risk homes for lead poisoning, as this could lead to unethical practices and the violation of privacy.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how "big data" can be used for social good. It talks about how governments and nonprofits are beginning to use it to tackle social problems and how data science is being used in political campaigns.

Friend: That's really interesting. What implications does the article have?

Me: Well, it suggests that data science has the potential to be used for more than just companies and corporations. It can be used for social good, helping to solve problems like homelessness, maternal mortality, and lead poisoning. It also shows that data scientists need to have a better understanding of the organizations they're working with and the problems they are trying to solve. Finally, it suggests that data science can be a powerful tool for political campaigns, helping them to more accurately target potential voters.

Action items

Research and explore the potential applications of big data in your own field or industry.
Reach out to local nonprofits and governments to see if they are using big data to tackle social problems.
Consider applying to the Eric & Wendy Schmidt Data Science for Social Good Fellowship at the University of Chicago.

Technical terms

Big Data: The science of collecting large amounts of information and making sense of it.
Machine Learning: A type of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to learn from data and make predictions.
Python: A programming language used for data analysis and machine learning.
R: A programming language used for statistical computing and graphics.
Data Science: The study of data and its use in making decisions and predictions.
Econometrics: The application of statistical methods to economic data.