Computation and Society Workshop

Kujtesë BejtullahuPowerful algorithms, which are capable of learning, are increasingly controlling various aspects of modern society: from social interactions (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube), economics (e.g., Uber, AirBnB, Banking), learning (e.g., Wikipedia, MOOCs), to governance (Judgements, Policing, Voting). These algorithms have a tremendous potential to change our lives for the better, but, via the ability to mimic and nudge human behavior, they also have the potential to be discriminatory, reinforce societal prejudices, and polarize opinions. These twofold developments have given rise to a plethora of questions at the interface of computer science and scientific disciplines such as sociology, economics, psychology, and law. The goal of this intensive one-day workshop is to discuss some of these emerging challenges from different viewpoints and brainstorm potential ways forward.