Explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning can be leveraged to address critical social issues in this thought-provoking 56-minute talk by Harvard economics professor Sendhil Mulanthainan. Gain insights into the inner workings of intelligent machines, their potential applications in social policy, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. Discover real-world examples of AI's impact, from facial recognition to autonomous vehicles, and learn how these technologies can be harnessed to tackle problems like inequality and mass incarceration. Delve into topics such as digit recognition, empirical intelligence, prediction in policy-making, and the challenges of human bias in decision-making processes.