The gag reel of algorithms. When programmers go into statistical learning without learning statistics, dangerous things can happen.

1. 4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 1
¡Big Data, Big Flops!
The gag reel of algorithms :D

2. Radical Idea
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 2
“Us programmers are the worst data
scientists…”.

3. The Danger Zone
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 3
Computer
Science Math & Stats
Domain Experience
Danger
Zone!
When programmers delve into
“Statistical Learning” without
learning statistics. Ask the right questions
Model
Reality
Ops
Analytics
Statistical
Learning
Data
Science Predict
Reality

4. Mindset
IT & SW Dev Engineering
HOW?
Analytics Stats
WHY?
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 4

5. Big Flop 1
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 5
“Famous cell phone company creates credit
products for possible criminal suspects.”

6. Big Flop 2
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 6
“Google image classifier tags photos of 2 african-
americans as ‘Gorillas’”.

7. Big Flop 3
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 7
“Google Flu Trends predicts influenza outbreaks
based solely on searches. Nothing happens.”

8. Big Flop 4
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 8

9. Big Flop 5
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 9

10. Root cause
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 10
Survey of +200 data
professonals. Those
coming from software
development have a
negative correlation with
business. When this red
cloud turns into a deep
blue oval with positive
slope, Analytics will and
must be born in IT.

11. How do we turn into analysts?
4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 11
• Hone your stats, maths and optimization skills. Start with
matrix algebra.
• Read “Think Stats” by Allen Downey.
• Stop automating customs and start improving processes.
• Get closer to your business and learn its language.
• Learn R. It’s ugly, but will get you thinking in stats.
• Don’t code machine learning without learning stats!

12. 4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 12
“Forget R vs Python. The best language for data
analysis, [regardless of scale or sophistication], is
the language of business!”
@jokame
Conclusion 1

13. 4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 13
“Reality does not reveal itself to those who only
contemplate it, but to those who immerse in it to
transform it.”
Octavio Paz, The Labyrinth of Solitude
Conclusion 2

14. 4/20/16 J.S.Ramos (@xuxoramos) 14
Thanks!
Tw: @xuxoramos
LinkedIn: xuxoramos
Github: jsramos