We Need Transparency in Algorithms, But Too Much Can Backfire

Companies and governments increasingly rely upon algorithms to make decisions that affect people's lives and livelihoods – from loan approvals, to recruiting, legal sentencing, and college admissions. Less vital decisions, too, are being delegated to machines, from product recommendations to dating matches. In response, many experts have called for rules and regulations that would make the inner workings of these algorithms transparent. But transparency can backfire and cause confusion if not implemented carefully. Fortunately, there is a smart way forward.