Podcast

SPOS #961 – Sandra Matz On Algorithms, Psychology And Human Behavior

Welcome to episode #961 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Sandra Matz is one of those rare individuals who sits at the intersection of academic rigor and cultural relevance. As a computational social scientist with a background in psychology and computer science, Sandra studies human behavior by uncovering the hidden relationships between our digital lives and our psychology. Her goal is to make data relatable, and help individuals and businesses make better and more ethical decisions. As the David W. Zalaznick Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, Sandra has dedicated her career to understanding the hidden connections between human behavior and the data trails we leave behind. Over the last 10 years, she has published over 50 academic papers in the world’s leading peer review journals. In her new book, Mindmasters – The Data-Driven Science Of Predicting And Changing Human Behavior, Sandra dives into how big data is not just a tool for understanding us but also for influencing our decisions – sometimes in ways that are empowering, other times in ways that are downright chilling. As someone who has always been fascinated by the promise and perils of technology, this conversation hit close to home. Sandra’s perspective is nuanced: she’s as much a champion of the transformative potential of algorithms in areas like mental health and financial well-being as she is a critic of their misuse for manipulation. Our conversation ranges from her conflicted feelings about the power of psychological targeting to her hope that these tools can help individuals lead happier, more balanced lives. What struck me most was her candor about the fine line between helpful nudges and invasive manipulation. Sandra is not just theorizing about these issues; she’s actively shaping the conversation around them. If you’re grappling with questions about the role of AI and algorithms in our lives – whether as a force for good or something we need to be deeply wary of – this episode will give you plenty to think about. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:04:51.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.
Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.
Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.
Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.
Check out ThinkersOne.
or you can connect on LinkedIn.
…or on Twitter.
Here is my conversation with Sandra Matz.
Mindmasters – The Data-Driven Science Of Predicting And Changing Human Behavior.
Follow Sandra on LinkedIn.
This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

(00:00) – Introduction to Computational Social Science.
(03:00) – The Conflict of Technology and Psychology.
(06:13) – Understanding Psychological Targeting.
(08:58) – The Intimacy Economy vs. The Attention Economy.
(11:52) – The Dangers of Data Privacy.
(15:09) – The Impact of Google Searches on Personal Life.
(17:56) – Mass Surveillance and Data Collection.
(20:57) – The Role of Regulation in Data Privacy.
(24:07) – The Algorithmic Accountability.
(26:49) – Synthetic Data and Its Implications.
(30:09) – The Future of AI and Human Creativity.
(33:01) – The Role of Algorithms in Society.
(36:08) – The Importance of Perspective in AI.
(41:59) – The Challenge of Transparency in Algorithms.
(44:46) – Grassroots Movements and Algorithm Accountability.
(47:46) – The Future of AI and Human Interaction.
(51:05) – Conclusion and Reflections on Technology.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #961.

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel lives at the intersection of technology, business transformation and consumer culture. He is the Executive Director of Next Era Institute, a strategic intelligence platform helping leaders understand the forces reshaping business, technology, culture and society. The Institute identifies which shifts matter, explores their wider significance and translates them into strategic direction and momentum. Mitch is also a globally recognized keynote speaker. He has delivered thousands of presentations across both B2B and B2C industries to organizations including Google, Walmart, LEGO, Shopify, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Strategy Magazine has called him “one of North America’s leading visionaries.” Mitch built his career by working directly inside the waves of change that reshaped modern business. He founded and built a digital marketing agency that worked with some of the world’s largest brands and was later acquired by WPP, where he served as President of a firm operating in 25 countries with almost 3,000 employees. Mitch is the bestselling author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete, and the host of Thinking With Mitch Joel, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world. His writing and commentary appear in outlets including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Inc. Magazine. He is a member of Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar. Mitch also hosts Groove – The No Treble Podcast, documenting the oral history of electric bass players. Mitch is also Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, a platform that enables companies to bring personalized thought leadership from world-class experts into meetings, events and off-sites in focused 15-minute bursts.