Aaron reviewed Algorithm by Hilke Schellmann
The Algorithm
3 stars
In this book, Schellmann takes a deep dive into the artificial intelligence tools that employers use to vet, monitor, and fire their employees. She surveys the landscape, and, frankly, it is terrifying and depressing. What seems particularly mind-numbing is that these AI tools don't seem to be very effective, but employers desperate to cut costs (regardless of the cost to the humanity of their employees) keep adopting them anyway. The allure of a "scientific" solution is so powerful that employers ignore or don't care about the downsides. Schellmann draws a comparison to phrenology at one point that is both apt and bleak. Unfortunately, the book could have used another round of editing, and gets repetitive in places (including almost the exact same quotation appearing on pages 56 and 73). But if you are on the job market or know someone who is, you might as well pick this up and …
In this book, Schellmann takes a deep dive into the artificial intelligence tools that employers use to vet, monitor, and fire their employees. She surveys the landscape, and, frankly, it is terrifying and depressing. What seems particularly mind-numbing is that these AI tools don't seem to be very effective, but employers desperate to cut costs (regardless of the cost to the humanity of their employees) keep adopting them anyway. The allure of a "scientific" solution is so powerful that employers ignore or don't care about the downsides. Schellmann draws a comparison to phrenology at one point that is both apt and bleak. Unfortunately, the book could have used another round of editing, and gets repetitive in places (including almost the exact same quotation appearing on pages 56 and 73). But if you are on the job market or know someone who is, you might as well pick this up and read it to learn more about the utter contempt that today's employers have for their employees through their continued use of these unproven and ethically-questionable-at-best tools.