... an algorithm is just a rule expressed innumbers, and there’s no hard line separating simple rules of thumb like the Apgar from the most complex mathematical formulas.... more than flawless data—is data whose flaws are known and appreciated by everyone involved. Appreciating the limits of people-judging empower us to use them responsibly.... she worries that a low score could become a self-fulfilling, discouraging prophecy..... Like hot water applied to a dehydrated meal, algorithms applied to data about people can quickly give us something that’s simple, consistent, and easy to use. The score an algorithm calculates about a person isn’t their real story, any more than a foil bag of reconstituted noodles is a gourmet feast.
