Humans Solve Problems, Not Machines

In a world driven by technology, it's important to remember that humans solve problems, not machines. Some of the most remarkable data achievements stem not solely from technology but from human ingenuity.

I used to lead projects at DataKind, a nonprofit committed to using "data science and AI in the service of humanity." We used data to solve tough social problems—from forecasting water demand in California to employing machine learning and satellite imagery to identify villages in need.

Today, as the industry experiences a seismic shift, a new generation of data scientists is emerging. Businesses are realizing that their most valuable assets are the people propelling the data-driven initiatives—not just the data, technology, or algorithms. I dive into this in my book Data Smart, where I talk about how we can turn raw data into actionable insights.

Arming ourselves with data and tools is just the beginning. It's about using these resources to make a measurable impact on the world around us. As the industry undergoes serious reflection on what truly matters, let's harness the collective power of data science to address pressing challenges.

So, what do you think is possible? What tough problems can we solve together using data science?