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Artificial Intelligence

Climate

Data Ethics

Algorithms gone awry: The impact of inappropriate data use

Algorithms gone awry: The impact of inappropriate data use

The Badger Herald, October 29, 2019

It was March 25, 2000. A sea of red filled State Street, and Badger fans around the country were celebrating. The University of Wisconsin-Madison men’s basketball had just defeated Purdue in the NCAA tournament, securing a spot in the Final Four. 

How ethics can ease our tech anxiety

How ethics can ease our tech anxiety

The Hill, September 24, 2019

The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) improving our lives is enormous. In less than a quarter of a century, the Internet has grown from niche curiosity to a modern necessity for much of the world. Interpersonal communication has never been easier and social media has profoundly changed how people interact. This same technology that allows for a more efficient and communicative modern life also puts public and personal information at risk and creates new anxieties among the public and policymakers. These heightened concerns should not be a hinderance to the furtherance of technology, but rather, they should serve as a catalyst for necessary reflection and planning. To fully realize the benefits of these technologies, organizational goals must align with defined ethical values and the public interest.

E-commerce/Retail

The Rounds Raises $24M Series B to Accelerate Sustainable, AI-Driven Last-Mile Delivery

The Rounds Raises $24M Series B to Accelerate Sustainable, AI-Driven Last-Mile Delivery

Associated Press, August 21, 2024

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rounds, an inventory management platform that delivers recurring grocery and household essentials in reusable packaging, today announced a $24 million Series B funding round led by Moderne Ventures, with participation from FJ Labs and existing investors, bringing its total funding to date to $66 million. The company will use the investment to scale its AI-powered service, strategically focusing on profitable growth in existing markets, expanding its team across machine learning, data science, and executive leadership, and launching new markets. The funding comes at a time of rapid progress towards market profitability. Since its Series A, The Rounds has posted 6X revenue growth, opened a state-of-the-art facility in Washington D.C., launched cold chain operations, and extended its closed-loop supply chain with local vendors.

Future of Work

Healthcare

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Should you be concerned about mpox?

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Should you be concerned about mpox?

Chicago Tribune, October 7, 2024

Mpox is spreading across several African countries. The World Health Organization declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern.” The Democratic Republic of Congo has been hardest hit, though Burundi has also seen a recent surge of cases. To date this year, 36,000 suspected cases have been reported, with more than one-half among children younger than 15 years old. In Burundi alone, two-thirds of the recent cases have been in those younger than 19.

Inflation and Economics

National Security & Counter Terrorism

Supply Chain

The Impact of Weather on the Supply Chain

The Impact of Weather on the Supply Chain

Parcel, October 2, 2024

The supply chain for many small parcel shipping companies is typically long. Products are often made in distant lands, travel on oceans and waterways, arrive at ports, are then transported to warehouses, from where a third-party logistics provider delivers the product to its intended destination. In a stable world, shippers and customers alike can expect a product to be delivered within the promised time window. However, in a world facing high levels of uncertainty caused by war, pandemic, political instability, raw material shortages, freak accidents (recall the regional and national impact of the bridge collapse in the Port of Baltimore caused by a container ship), and weather, the shipper must work overtime to ensure customer expectations are met at no additional cost, despite these uncertainties.

Transportation

Sheldon H. Jacobson: Will a federal inquiry into airline loyalty programs dramatically change them?

Sheldon H. Jacobson: Will a federal inquiry into airline loyalty programs dramatically change them?

Chicago Tribune, September 24, 2024

The Department of Transportation is investigating the airline loyalty programs associated with the four largest carriers — American, United, Delta and Southwest. The focus of the investigation is on the fairness, transparency, predictability and competitiveness of the airlines’ loyalty programs. Should program members be concerned that the investigation could change their benefits, possibly for th ...

Voting/Elections

My Turn | We are all on the American Team

My Turn | We are all on the American Team

The News-Gazette, October 15, 2024

During a leisurely walk around our neighborhood, my wife and I came across our delightful octogenarian neighbor, “Marilyn.” As we exchanged some pleasantries about the weather and our neighborhood in general, our conversation turned to the upcoming election.