Data Quote by Sara Wachter-Boettcher
““Cathy O’Neil claims that this reliance on historical data is a fundamental problem with many algorithmic systems: “Big data processes codify the past,” she writes. “They do not invent the future.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil, 2016
Relying on past data locks algorithms into historic biases, limiting future innovation.
In simple terms: Historical data traps algorithms in old patterns.
Key Takeaway
Seek data that anticipates future needs.
Themes
bias
technology
future
ethics
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
analytical
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- policy design
- AI development
- social research
- product planning
Key Concepts
algorithmic bias
data ethics
predictive modeling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we incorporate forward‑looking data?
- What safeguards prevent past bias from persisting?
A Different Perspective
Data alone cannot predict novel scenarios without creative input.
![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
