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Computer Science Department Colloquium
9/24/2018 11:00 am
CoRE A 301

Blindness, Bias and and Ethical Approach to Data Science

Vinnie Dicks, Chairman Saint Peter's Healthcare System, New Brunswick NJ; Co-Founder HumanizeMD

Faculty Host: James Abello

Abstract

Blindness, Bias and and Ethical Approach to Data Science is a presentation that addresses an important subject for those developing Algorithms, AI, Big Data solutions and Machine Learning techniques.  The dangers of bad outcomes in Data Science, AI and Machine Learning are not a secret, but there is far too little discussion to ensure that efforts in data science avoid unintended bad outcomes. The talk and audience participation focuses on our inherent blindness, our built in bias, and real life examples of how algorithms and data projects gone awry can create company wide or systemic risk. Given the speaker's broad experience in Financial Services and Health Care, he has plenty of relevant examples.  The presentation concludes with a framework for an ethical approach for developing data models based on principles used in the mental health field.  It emphasizes an approach to implement projects which attempt to do the most good for the most people, but do not ignore the impact on the small tails.
  Given to AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning Leaders at firms such as JP Morgan Chase and IBM's Watson group, this presentation is a way for students of Data Science to reflect on the inherent dangers in their evolving field of study, and the type of world they want to build with it.

Bio

Former Senior Managing Director Bear Stearns and JP Morgan and Co-Head Wealth Management & Private Client Services
  Mr. Dicks, a 1983 graduate of the Rutgers College of Engineering.  He hold BS Industrial Engineering, and an MBA from Pace University's Lubin Business School in Strategic Management. He spent the bulk of his career in Financial Services, first at JP Morgan,  and then at Bear Stearns where he was responsible for the Operation, Strategy, Technology, Product Development, Finance and Improvement of the Wealth Management & Private Client Services Divisions, as a Senior Managing Director reporting to the CEO.  After Bear Stearns was purchased by JPM, he assisted with the business transition before retiring from the Financial Services business in 2008.  Since then he has expanded his experience by consulting, educating and advising to the Healthcare, Investments and Technology sectors with digital transformation, business strategy, business development, systems/data being key themes.  He has served on the boards of several private and not for profit organizations, and for the last ten years been a Trustee at Saint Peter's Healthcare System and Board Chair for the last three.