This week we begin with an article on a British AI tool that was designed to predict gun and knife violence, but proved to be ineffective and inaccurate in serving the purpose. Next, we have a story about the surge in the use of alternative data such as satellite imagery and social media sentiments by hedge funds and companies seeking cues to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The following article talks about a space-solutions database to be developed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in Abu Dhabi, as a measure to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Next, we cover a Taiwanese database on biodiversity that contains records of almost 10 million wildlife sightings making it the second-largest wildlife index in Asia. Then, we have a story about how bad data and lack of public access to data is acting as a deterrent in the United States’ fight against COVID-19. To end, we have a piece on Google’s acquisition of the health wearables company, Fitbit, being halted by the European Commission, over concerns of Google controlling health-related data which may distort competition.
A British AI Tool to Predict Violent Crime Is Too Flawed to Use
A flagship artificial intelligence system designed to predict gun and knife violence in the UK before it happens had serious flaws that made it unusable, local police have admitted. The error led to large drops in accuracy, and the system was ultimately rejected by all of the experts reviewing it for ethical problems.
Hedge funds scour alternative data for edge on Covid and economy
A multibillion-dollar industry offering unusual data such as satellite imagery and measurements of social media sentiment is enjoying a boom in demand as hedge funds and companies hunt for clues on how to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
UNOOSA in Abu Dhabi to create space-solutions database
A project office of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, UNOOSA, to be opened in Abu Dhabi later this year, will develop a database of space-based solutions to help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, according to a top official.
Taiwan’s wildlife database the second-largest in Asia
A database on biodiversity in Taiwan has compiled records of almost 10 million wildlife sightings, making it the second-largest wildlife index in Asia, with the vast majority of data coming from volunteers, the Council of Agriculture’s Endemic Species Research Institute said.
Bad data is bogging down the COVID-19 fight; US ‘needs to change,’ experts say
Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington, has been trying to make sense of this summer’s COVID-19 surge. He says he can theorize only in a general way about why the virus spread and what to do about it.
Google-Fitbit deal to be scrutinized in Europe over data competition concerns
In a set-back for Google’s plan to acquire health wearable company Fitbit, the European Commission has announced it’s opening an investigation to dig into a range of competition concerns being attached to the proposal from multiple quarters.
Source: https://mailchi.mp/zigram/data-asset-weekly-dispatch_10_august_2
