Are big data, digitalization and artificial intelligence threatening society? These questions were discussed during Berlin Science Week in November 2018. During an afternoon session at the Dutch Embassy in Berlin on ‘The future of a data-driven society’, Sally Wyatt (MUSTS) addressed the challenges facing researchers with the rise of big data. While recognizing the exciting possibilities linked to big data, Wyatt also cautioned that data are never given and never speak for themselves. More data do not reduce the need for human interpretation. On the contrary, big data can only lead to better understanding when accompanied by theoretical and normative reflection.
The session was attended by more than 150 people from academia, industry and government, including UM alumni now based in Berlin. Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (RBB) covered this session (a short video can be found here.) This was the first time a Dutch university has taken part in the programme.