Guest Thinkers — February 22, 2011

Dan Ariely: “Predictably Irrational”

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

To cap off Day 2 of the World Innovation Forum, Dan Ariely will be speaking on the topic, “The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.”

Dan Ariely is a professor of behavioral economics at Duke University and visiting professor at the MIT Media Lab. A behavioral economist, Ariely is the author of the groundbreaking and bestselling book, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Illustration of a person standing on a ladder inside a large head with a maze-like brain exposed, symbolizing introspection or exploration of the mind.

Neuropsych

Is teaching psychology a waste of time?

When appraising human behavior, people tend to forgo the lessons of psychology in favor of assumption and anecdote.

A person holds a smartphone and a book with an ornate cover, clasped together in both hands.

The Present

Silicon Valley’s obsession with AI looks a lot like religion

The tech world’s fixation on artificial intelligence has spawned beliefs and rituals that resemble religion — complete with digital deities, moral codes, and threats of damnation.

Satellite view of the United States at night reveals illuminated cities and areas, with dense clusters of lights in the eastern region, highlighting vibrant economic hubs reminiscent of workforce data concentrations, contrasted by the sparser illumination in the western regions.

The Present

America’s workforce desperately needs a data overhaul

A National Center for Data and Evidence could supplement our archaic and expensive system and more accurately measure AI’s impact on jobs.

Silhouette of a person against a blue background, overlaid with white node and line networks.

Thinking

Mechanized minds: AI’s hidden impact on human thought

While we’re busy wondering whether machines will ever become conscious, we rarely stop to ask: What happens to us?

Illustration of human evolution with silhouettes of ape to human walking against an abstract background with swirling red and white patterns.

The Past

A new spin on the “Stoned Ape Hypothesis”

The controversial theory about magic mushrooms and human evolution gets a much-needed update.

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