Recap: The Inaugural Machine Eatable

Last week, with DataKind and Civic Hall, we launched Machine Eatable, a monthly lunch conversation featuring an unpanel with local experts on social good and data science. Our first event spotlighted Cathy O’Neil, Meredith Broussard and Solon Barocas in a discussion on investigating algorithms and data bias, featuring a hands-on audience and plenty of great moments on Twitter that we can’t wait to share with you.

Want to join in on the conversation? Meet us at the next Machine Eatable at Civic Hall on November 13, and sign up for the #MachineEatable mailing list here.

Livesketches of Machine Eatable via Jonny Goldstein:

Here is our recap of our inaugural event, in tweets:

Our 1st #MachineEatable lunch w/@MicrosoftNY kicks off at 12:30 today! Features @mathbabedotorg @s010n @merbroussard https://t.co/hONEC8hxKy

— DataKind (@DataKind) October 22, 2015

#MachineEatable exists, you guys! https://t.co/DKuISMR7Wq

— Matt Stempeck (@mstem) October 22, 2015

Are we making algorithms that are better and less biased than people are? @mathbabedotorg @s010n @merbroussard discuss #MachineEatable

— Jo Ladzinski (@JoEatsFood) October 22, 2015

.@mstem @jmfbrooks @CivicHall bring together stellar discussion on importance of knowing what's going on inside black box #MachineEatable

— FutureAir (@FutureAir_nyc) October 22, 2015

To solve bias in teacher evals @mathbabedotorg wants an app where each teacher can examine their score & see all their data #MachineEatable

— Jeanne Brooks (@jmfbrooks) October 22, 2015

Big crowd for inaugural #MachineEatable panel, shouts @datakind for convening- hey @jqnatividad is here. pic.twitter.com/uVe1hExG3g

— David Moore (@ppolitics) October 22, 2015

.@CivicHall @mathbabedotorg defines an algorithm as an formal process of deciding something #MachineEatable pic.twitter.com/TtDegyKiB0

— FutureAir (@FutureAir_nyc) October 22, 2015

#TIL that brushing your teeth is part of an algorithm. And you know, making algorithms more fair too #MachineEatable

— Jo Ladzinski (@JoEatsFood) October 22, 2015

What about #ombudsbots? algorithms that ferret out corruption/biases in #GraftGraphs and use market incentives – bounties? #MachineEatable

— Joel Natividad (@jqnatividad) October 22, 2015

Data scientists should help facilitate conversation around algorithms that affect people's lives @mathbabedotorg #MachineEatable

— DataKind (@DataKind) October 22, 2015

"Every worker should have the right to know how they're being evaluated." @mathbabedotorg #MachineEatable

— Jeanne Brooks (@jmfbrooks) October 22, 2015

.@CivicHall @mathbabedotorg says we need a modern set of rules for fair algorithms for social good #MachineEatable

— FutureAir (@FutureAir_nyc) October 22, 2015

How do algorithms not acknowledge or undermine opportunity for a person to grow and change? @merbroussard #machineeatable

— DataKind (@DataKind) October 22, 2015

Interesting conversation about the shortcomings of algorithms and data for decisions at #machineeatable – gave me something to think about

— Lucio Tolentino (@lucio_tolentino) October 22, 2015

Livedrawings of today's #MachineEatable lunch talk by @envizualize! https://t.co/GjrW9riUjx pic.twitter.com/hJaM36ShFo

— Matt Stempeck (@mstem) October 22, 2015