Throwback to an Emerging Technology Conference by Kay S

Analyticum Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow’s Analyst

“The human side of analytics is the biggest challenge to implementing big data.” – Paul Gibbons

 “With great power comes great responsibility!” was the message that Chris Arnold, SVP and Head of Product & Modelling, Wells Fargo subtly yet assertively drove into the minds of the participants at RACE360 Emerging Technology Conference 2019 held at Hotel LaLiT Ashok on August 28, 2019.  During his session titled, “Analyticum Deus: A brief history of tomorrow’s analyst,” he shed light upon one of the most important aspects of emerging technology – it’s power to render a human to become a destructive force at times such as the invent of nuclear weapons.  Responsibility, accessibility, and technological power needs to go hand in hand with accountability along with strong principles resting with people who have unrestrained and unbridled access to data as per Chris.

Quoting Elon Musk who compared that AI can be more dangerous than a nuke, Chris spoke on how AI algorithms used today are changing the face of the world.  Pointing out the flipside of the power that we have harnessed, he continued to iterate on how he also remains positive presenting three solutions to these problems per his analysis.  The first point drove a strong message on how every analyst must own up and take responsibility becoming accountable for the data that one handles and what they do with it.   He presented a case from his experience when he was in South America where he was putting together and handling healthcare data.  Handling data with due importance using an analytical and logical thought process is the responsibility of an analyst.  Every form of data that is procured may or may not be relevant thereby requiring one to be very sharp, sensible, and responsible enough to recognize the difference or lack thereof.

Chris went on to speak about need and respect for data privacy, the caution to be exercised in AI such that it does not invade anybody’s privacy beyond limits collecting redundant data that is not required to be captured.  The problem as per him is not the intellect of the people but the abundance of infrastructure and data that is being collected by large organizations incorrectly and illegally, which might explode into something that cannot be envisaged or controlled.  He emphasized upon the strong need to accept and embrace GPR as data analysts and bring upon regulatory pressure such as in banking.  This will ensure responsibility and accountability for the data one collects as that would be one of the most effective ways to put protection on AI.  Although he believed AI can be done, his concern was the unsafe and illegal methods that might be used to acquire the data.

Digital literacy is last and important point he enlightened the audience with by quoting his experience with people when he mentioned that he was a statistician.  The reason most people frown upon or are intimated about subjects such as these is because of their bad learning experiences they had with the subject itself.  But in today’s world as nobody is immune from data and statistics, which makes it all the more imperative for analysts to take a stand to ensure for the people and the world to be protected.  To this end, he shared the journey he has embarked upon, sponsored by Wells Fargo, to educate children who are economically weaker in the society.  The reason he started this was his passion to bring upon digital literacy to the economically weaker strata of the society where they have no access to gain such knowledge.  He stressed upon the need for education, literacy, and knowledge to be simplified enough to bring it to the people in Layman’s terms using an experiential and hands-on methodology.  The amazing result of this pedagogy was very awe-inspiring and thought-provoking indeed.  The need for fundamental knowledge and the methodology of imparting complex lessons in simplified manner can lead to a larger strata of the society acquiring digital literacy.  Learning is a journey not a destination and as analysts, one needs to keep learning to effect people positively by being responsible and accountable for every data they receive and provide in a digitally exposed world that is lurking with constant danger of the unknown.

Carl Levin could not have said it any better when he stated, "Restoring responsibility and accountability is essential to the economic and fiscal health of our nation."

- by Kay S Written as Assistant Director of REVA University