Amazon

In a modern company like Amazon, almost all human activity is directed by computer programs. They not only monitor workers’ actions but are used to choose who should be employed. Yet it emerged last week that the company had scrapped an attempt to use artificial intelligence to select workers on the basis of their CVs, since the results consistently discriminated against women. This is a welcome decision that illuminates two important facts about machine learning, the most widely used technique of AI at the moment. The technical or operational point is that these programs, no matter how fast they learn, can only learn from the data presented to them. If this data reflects historic patterns of discrimination, the results will perpetuate those patterns. That’s what Amazon found: by training its AI with the records of those job applicants who had been hired in the past, who were overwhelmingly men, it taught the program to discriminate against applications from women. Since … [Read more...] about The Guardian view on artificial intelligence: human learning

“We are the controllers of the funfair, of the rabbit hole ... of the dreams,” cries an eccentrically costumed showman as a three-dimensional kaleidoscope whirls into life. The ride is one of the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland-themed theatrical “experiences” designed to inject some pizzazz into the opening of Westgate Oxford, the £440m shopping centre that has replaced the city’s rundown 1970s scheme. The spinning wall of coloured mirrors has a dizzying effect; when the ride ends, you stumble out blinking like a modern-day Alice. It’s not Wonderland – the huge John Lewis in front of you confirms that. Rather, you have entered the realm of “shoppertainment”, a brave new world where retailers aren’t just in the business of trying to sell stuff – they are also in showbusiness. The more than 300 staff at Westgate’s John Lewis have been put through their paces by the Oxford Playhouse theatre. The acting … [Read more...] about ‘Shoppertainment’: How department stores are becoming ‘theatres of dreams’

Morrisons is reviving the Safeway brand after 11 years as part of its attempt to move back into the fast-growing convenience market. The former supermarket brand, which disappeared in November 2005 after being bought by Morrisons, will front a range of hundreds of food and grocery products, many of which will be produced within the Bradford-based company’s own factories. Morrisons will begin distributing the range in the first half of next year, although the retailer has not confirmed whether it will be handling relations with independent stores directly or working with a distribution firm. The move could result in the Safeway brand competing for space on convenience store shelves with established wholesale brands such as Booker’s Happy Shopper and Nisa Today’s Heritage. Clive Black, a retail analyst at Morrisons’ house broker, Shore Capital, said the move would improve the utilisation of the supermarket’s manufacturing facilities. The group has 16 … [Read more...] about Morrisons to revive ‘much-liked’ Safeway food and grocery brand

They are the longest living vertebrate on Earth, with incredibly long lifespans of up 400 years. And now researchers believe that Greenland sharks could hold the secret to long life in humans. Scientists are mapping the DNA of the sharks in the search for 'unique genes' which could hold the secret to the shark's longevity. Scroll down for video  Scientists are mapping the DNA of Greenland sharks in the search for 'unique genes' which could hold the secret to the shark's longevity STUDYING GREENLAND SHARKS Researchers collected DNA from tiny clippings from the fin of the sharks, which are caught on a line live, and tagged before being released.Using this DNA, the researchers have sequenced the full genome from almost 100 Greenland sharks.And they are now attempting to find the genes that hold the secret to why the sharks live so long.If found, the 'long-life' genes could shed light on why all vertebrates have a limited life span, and what dictates the life expectancy of … [Read more...] about Mysterious 400 year old sharks in Greenland could hold the genetic secret to long life

Human beings are not built to endure prolonged periods of stress. If you want to see an extreme example of what it can do to a person, observe prime ministers as they enter and exit Downing Street. Before, fresh-faced, they simper for the cameras. Afterwards, they are gaunt, grey and lined. It is like watching an accelerated version of ageing, and a reminder of how stress corrodes the human body. We live in stressful times, though. More people are scratching a living in the gig economy, without paid leave or long-term job security. Austerity has ripped through communities like bullets through plasterboard, destroying the mental health of those forced into dehumanising encounters with the machinery of the welfare state. The Amazon is burning, a no-deal Brexit is looming and we are hurtling headfirst towards climate catastrophe. It is no wonder that our mental health services are in crisis, more young people are seeking help for anxiety and schoolchildren are being taught mindfulness to … [Read more...] about Six ways to stay healthy when you’re stressed