Neil Raden

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Neil Raden, based in Santa Fe, NM, is an industry analyst, consultant and widely published author and speaker with a background in algebraic topology and P&C actuarial, he founded Hired Brains Research in 1985 to provide thought leadership, context and advisory consulting and implementation services in Data Architecture, AI, Analytics/Data Science and organizational change for analytics for clients worldwide across many industries. Neil is a recognized authority on AI Ethics, the co-author of the first book on Decision Man agent, “Smart (Enough) Systems,” and the foundational report for the Society of Actuaries, “Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence for Actuaries.” He welcomes your comments at [email protected].

Neil Raden

time-for-review

GPT-3 demystified - spooky-good AI or overrated text generator?

OpenAI's GPT-3 AI-based text generator is one of the most hyped AI developments in recent years. But does it really understand language? Are AI advancements, such as the upcoming GPT-4, really about expanding the computing parameters, or are their better criteria?

Cloud question mark © Thuat Images - Fotolia.com

Will BI survive? Yes, but we may not recognize it

Is BI still relevant? Why has BI user adoption remained a problem? If we look at BI's evolution, from dashboards to augmented analysis with AI, change is afoot. Will that lead to the end of BI - or, perhaps, to the fulfillment of its original mission?

Human and robot shaking hands over stacked coins AI finance trust concept © Andrey_Popov - Shutterstock

The last mile in AI deployment - answering the top questions

My diginomica piece on the last mile in AI deployment raised issues - how do you bring AI projects into production, while mitigating the risks? Here's how I responded to top AI deployment questions.

time-for-review

Beyond good intentions - a critical review of Deloitte's report on the ethical dilemmas facing the tech industry

Most AI ethics reports get lost in the vague reassurance of good intentions. Deloitte's recent paper on the five biggest issues in tech industry ethics was different. Here's my critique - after a dialogue with the report's lead author.

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The perils of the AI predictions game - lessons from 2021's AI predictions

Predictions are a perilous game indeed. But as we head into what is sure to be an AI-saturated 2022, a look back at these ten AI predictions from 2021 is instructive.

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How AI ethics falls short - preserving jobs is not enough

AI ethics has been a hot topic for about five years, but are we getting to the fundamental issues? Here's why well-intentioned ideas for preventing AI job loss come up short.

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What is the role of AI in pandemic response? The National Security Commission on AI provides a framework

In 2020, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence put out a landmark 750 page report on AI. This year, they followed up with a paper on putting AI to work in pandemic circumstances. But is it actionable? Here's my review.

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The last mile in AI deployment - where the biggest risks (and payoffs) happen

When it comes to getting business results from AI, the last mile is where it happens. But AI development projects invoke risk as well. Here's the pitfalls to address in the last mile of AI deployments.

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While you weren't looking, InsurTech became a thing

Riding a surge, funding for InsurTech startups totaled $10.5 billion in the first nine months of 2021. But why? You can point to insurers running on legacy tech - but it's not that simple.

time-for-change

AI and human rights - a different take on an old debate

The UN's declarations on AI and human rights are meant as a wake-up call. There is now a new report on AI and human rights to consider, but I believe we have overlooked the historical context of technology adoption.

Cartoon robots look at young man lined up for job interview © pathdoc - shutterstock

Welcome to the algorithmic nudging debate - a potent AI practice with ethical implications

Nudging isn't new - but algorithmic nudging ups the ante. The AI ethics debate now extends to these new means of persuasion. It's an issue we should all take a look at, whether we're the nudger, or the nudgee.

AI chatbot customer experience smartphone in hand urban © panuwat phimpha - shutterstock

Conversational AI - can IVAs like Amelia change the customer experience?

Thought chatbots were trendy? Make way for Interactive Virtual Assistants (IVAs). But can chatbots change the customer experience? Can IVAs like Amelia go beyond the limitations of chatbots? There is plenty to consider.

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Synthetic data for AI modeling? I'm still not convinced

Synthetic data is billed as a solution for the limitations of real world data sets. But when we scrutinize what synthetic data can do for today's AI systems, unresolved questions keep popping up.