Featured Categories

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

Inflation and Economics

National Security & Counter Terrorism

Supply Chain

De-risking global supply chains: Looking beyond material flows

De-risking global supply chains: Looking beyond material flows

Hinrich Foundation, October 29, 2024

Global supply chains are undergoing an irrevocable shift. While material flows remain critical, they are only the most visible aspect of this transition. Beneath the surface, changes in information exchanges, financial reconfigurations, and human capital movements are posing far greater risks to the benefits of global trade. The US, China, and the rest the world must handle these changes with care and perspective.

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

Four certainties in an uncertain election

Four certainties in an uncertain election

The Hill, October 29, 2024

Election Day is now just one week away. The White House remains up for grabs, with seven states — Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada — poised to decide who will win.