Why your job is safe

An occasional running series intended to pose the question: when will Adam Curtis’ assertion that the vaunted predictive power of big data is a “modern ghost story”.

JC pontificates about technology An occasional series. →Go uptown A likely sporting outcome according to Google a couple of years ago A likely sporting outcome according to Google yesterday Goldman predicted this: We actually got this: Index: Click ᐅ to expand: Technology Design Tell me more Sign up for our newsletter — or just get in touch: for ½ a weekly 🍺 you get to consult JC. Ask about it here.

Your job is safe as long as:

• Google thinks that ==> is a sensible win prediction for a cricket match.
• Microsoft’s auto-correct for bhusiness suggests “bushiness” but not “business”.
• Android voice recognition interprets “Richard Strauss” as “Richard’s trouser”.
• Those splendid data-wizard brianboxes at Goldman Sachs can get their predictions this wrong:

• Long term, technology is a leveller and not a provider of competitive advantage

See also

• Artificial intelligence