--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would argue that one of the major…" description: "\"I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate discriminatory patterns without acknowledging ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg" --- # I would argue that one of the major problems with our… ![“I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate discriminatory patterns without acknowledging any kind of intent.” quote by Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg) > “I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate discriminatory patterns without acknowledging any kind of intent.” [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blind reliance on algorithms can embed and spread discrimination even without deliberate intent. **In simple terms:** Algorithms can spread bias unintentionally. Key Takeaway Audit and question algorithmic decisions. Themes bias ethics technology justice Mood concerned critical Type cautionary analytical When to use this quote - hiring - loan approval - criminal sentencing - online ads Key Concepts algorithmic fairness systemic discrimination accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure transparency in algorithmic design? - What safeguards prevent unintended discrimination? A Different Perspective Bias can be hidden in data and hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Algorithms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algorithms/) [Algorithms Propagate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algorithms-propagate-2452719/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-trust/) [Discriminatory Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discriminatory-patterns-2452721/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Major problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/major-problems/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Propagate Discriminatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propagate-discriminatory-2452718/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Trust Algorithms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-algorithms-2452720/) ## Related quotes > [I have blind trust in people. Even if that ends up hurting me, I won't change. I will go on trusting people because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bipasha-basu/i-have-blind-trust-in-people-even-if-that-ends-up-hurting-me-i-won-t/) [Bipasha Basu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bipasha-basu/) > [“They say that one tends to find just what one is looking for. In other words, our judgment is affected by the very goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-lempereur/they-say-that-one-tends-to-find-just-what-one-is-looking-for-in-other/) [Manuel Lempereur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-lempereur/) > [“For of us is required a blind trust, and a hope without assurance, knowing not what lies before us in a little while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/for-of-us-is-required-a-blind-trust-and-a-hope-without-assurance/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [Hating my self for doing blind trust on the wrong person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabiha/hating-my-self-for-doing-blind-trust-on-the-wrong-person/) [Nabiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabiha/) > [I generally wade in blind and trust to fate and instinct to see me through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-straub/i-generally-wade-in-blind-and-trust-to-fate-and-instinct-to-see-me/) [Peter Straub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-straub/) > [There's something about that blind trust between Timbaland and me - two people that have almost nothing in common except for a love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/there-s-something-about-that-blind-trust-between-timbaland-and-me-two/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [“We live in bad times. People do harm to those they don’t understand. There is nothing worse than a closed mind and the blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leora-cika-waldman/we-live-in-bad-times-people-do-harm-to-those-they-don-t-understand/) [Leora Cika Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leora-cika-waldman/) > [Presidents in the modern era who've had significant assets have usually put those into a blind trust with some kind of independent manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-martin/presidents-in-the-modern-era-who-ve-had-significant-assets-have/) [Rachel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-martin/) > [To commit herself to becoming "an apostle of Joy" when humanly speaking she might have felt at the brink of despair, was heroic indeed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kolodiejchuk/to-commit-herself-to-becoming-an-apostle-of-joy-when-humanly-speaking/) [Brian Kolodiejchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kolodiejchuk/) > [I am a small business owner; I'm in the agri-business. That's about as blind a trust as you can get. We trust in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-perdue/i-am-a-small-business-owner-i-m-in-the-agri-business-that-s-about-as/) [Sonny Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-perdue/) > [Gather knowledge about the craft of writing. Immerse yourself in the art of it. Then write. Write yourself silly. Write yourself mad. Write yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/gather-knowledge-about-the-craft-of-writing-immerse-yourself-in-the/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [Love is a pure believe and a blind trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kand3n/love-is-a-pure-believe-and-a-blind-trust/) [Kand3n](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kand3n/) > [We have a completely unregulated digital landscape. There is almost no oversight. We are placing blind trust in companies like Facebook to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wylie/we-have-a-completely-unregulated-digital-landscape-there-is-almost-no/) [Christopher Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wylie/) > [The medical profession (is) a conspiracy to hide its own shortcomings. No doubt the same may be said of all professions. They are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-medical-profession-is-a-conspiracy-to-hide-its-own-shortcomings/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“There's something about love that resembles faith. It's kind of blind trust, isn't it? The sweetest euphoria. The magic of connecting with a being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-shafak/there-s-something-about-love-that-resembles-faith-it-s-kind-of-blind/) [Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-shafak/) ## More by Cathy O'Neil > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“They draw statistical correlations between a person’s zip code or language patterns and her potential to pay back a loan or handle a job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/they-draw-statistical-correlations-between-a-person-s-zip-code-or/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [I don't think anybody's ever notified that they were sentenced to an extra two years because their recidivism score had been high, or notified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-ever-notified-that-they-were-sentenced-to-an/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The national conversation around white entitlement, around institutionalized racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, I think, came about in large part because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-national-conversation-around-white-entitlement-around/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“model’s blind spots reflect the judgments and priorities of its creators. 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Those who pay their bills promptly, the thinking goes, are more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/employers-for-example-are-increasingly-using-credit-scores-to/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [Google is so big you have no idea what a given person does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/google-is-so-big-you-have-no-idea-what-a-given-person-does/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [It's a standard thing you hear from startup people - that their product is somehow improving the world. And if you follow the reasoning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/it-s-a-standard-thing-you-hear-from-startup-people-that-their-product/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The NSA buys data from private companies, so the private companies are the source of all this stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-nsa-buys-data-from-private-companies-so-the-private-companies-are/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“The algorithms would make sure that those deemed losers would remain that way. A lucky minority would gain ever more control over the data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-algorithms-would-make-sure-that-those-deemed-losers-would-remain/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“As we’ve seen, they (the companies) routinely reject applicants on the basis of credit scores and personality tests. Health scores represent a natural—and frightening—next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/as-we-ve-seen-they-the-companies-routinely-reject-applicants-on-the/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [We don't let a car company just throw out a car and start driving it around without checking that the wheels are fastened on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/we-don-t-let-a-car-company-just-throw-out-a-car-and-start-driving-it/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The public trusts big data way too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-public-trusts-big-data-way-too-much/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [My fantasy is that there is a new regulatory body that is in charge of algorithmic auditing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/my-fantasy-is-that-there-is-a-new-regulatory-body-that-is-in-charge/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) [Explore all 59 Cathy O'Neil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## More Algorithms quotes > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“no matter how much tech companies talk about algorithms like they’re nothing but advanced math, they always reflect the values of their creators:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-wachter-boettcher/no-matter-how-much-tech-companies-talk-about-algorithms-like-they-re/) [Sara Wachter-Boettcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-wachter-boettcher/) > [Google has - at least at this point - maintained the line where it keeps organic results separate from the advertisements. But over time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wu/google-has-at-least-at-this-point-maintained-the-line-where-it-keeps/) [Tim Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wu/) > [ The classes of problems which are respectively known and not known to have good algorithms are of great theoretical interest. \[...\] I conjecture that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-edmonds/the-classes-of-problems-which-are-respectively-known-and-not-known-to/) [Jack Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-edmonds/) > [No one knows what the right algorithm is, but it gives us hope that if we can discover some crude approximation of whatever this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/no-one-knows-what-the-right-algorithm-is-but-it-gives-us-hope-that-if/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [“Data Scientists should recall innovation often times is not providing fancy algorithms, but rather value to the customer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-mingle/data-scientists-should-recall-innovation-often-times-is-not-providing/) [Damian Mingle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-mingle/) > [I don't think anybody's ever notified that they were sentenced to an extra two years because their recidivism score had been high, or notified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-ever-notified-that-they-were-sentenced-to-an/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [ Object-oriented programming aficionados think that everything is an object… this \[isn't\] so. There are things that are objects. Things that have state and change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stepanov/object-oriented-programming-aficionados-think-that-everything-is-an/) [Alexander Stepanov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stepanov/) > [ \[The Euclidean algorithm is\] the granddaddy of all algorithms, because it is the oldest nontrivial algorithm that has survived to the present day. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/the-euclidean-algorithm-is-the-granddaddy-of-all-algorithms-because/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [I like to think our brains are a bit like algorithms. Whatever you give it and feed it, you get out the product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-like-to-think-our-brains-are-a-bit-like-algorithms-whatever-you/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Bitcoin is not “unregulated”. It is regulated by algorithm instead of being regulated by government bureaucracies. Un-corrupted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-antonopoulos/bitcoin-is-not-unregulated-it-is-regulated-by-algorithm-instead-of/) [Andreas Antonopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-antonopoulos/) > [It took me 1057 pages to describe the hundreds of mathematical equations, algorithms and programming techniques that I invented and used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-emeagwali/it-took-me-1057-pages-to-describe-the-hundreds-of-mathematical/) [Philip Emeagwali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-emeagwali/) > [“We will start by sketching the recursive algorithm and then add details to get to a full description of the algorithm. Footnote : Translation:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sariel-har-peled/we-will-start-by-sketching-the-recursive-algorithm-and-then-add/) [Sariel Har-Peled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sariel-har-peled/) > [The emphasis on mathematical methods seems to be shifted more towards combinatorics and set theory - and away from the algorithm of differential equations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-von-neumann/the-emphasis-on-mathematical-methods-seems-to-be-shifted-more-towards/) [John von Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-von-neumann/) [Browse all 154 Algorithms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algorithms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate discriminatory patterns without acknowledging any kind of intent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cathy O'Neil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-problems-with-our-blind-trust-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Algorithms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-problems-with-our-blind-trust-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/cathy-o-neil-11478_algorithms_i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-prob_245614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate…” — Cathy O'Neil", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cathy O'Neil", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would argue that one of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-problems-with-our-blind-trust-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-problems-with-our-blind-trust-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```