Big data requires big visions for big change | Martin Hilbert | TEDxUCL

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Will data scientists dominate the world in future? While this seems to be an omnipresent conclusion nowadays, it will certainly not be the case. Data are based on what happened in the past, which restricts our forecasting ability to futures similar to the past. But most public and private sector activities aim at creating futures distinct from the past: hopefully ‘a better world’. Making predictions about unprecedented futures requires more than data, it requires theory-driven models that envision futures that do not exist in data. Fortunately, digital tools also assist us in envisioning futures that have never been. At the University of California, Davis, Martin thinks about the fundamental theories of how digitization affects society. During his 15 years at the United Nations Secretariat, Martin assisted governments to take advantage of the digital revolution. When the ‘big data’ age arrived, his research was the first to quantify the historical growth of how much technologically mediated information there actually is in the world. He is convinced that ‘big data’ is a huge opportunity for making the world a better place. After joining the faculty of the University of California, Davis, he had more time to think more deeply about the theoretical underpinning and fundamental limitations of the ‘big data’ revolution. When TEDxUCL asked him if there is a limit to the power of data, he answered with the fundamental limitation to all empirical science. The fundamental limit of ‘big data’ has to do with social change and how we envision the future. Luckily, the digital age also provides solutions for fine-tuning our future visions. Martin holds doctorates in Economics and Social Sciences, and in Communication, and has provided hands-on technical assistance to Presidents, government experts, legislators, diplomats, NGOs, and companies in over 20 countries. More http://www.martinhilbert.net About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)