Tech Lounge

Author: Chris Chinchilla

Every two weeks, the tech lounge invites tech luminaries, entrepreneurs, and creatives from small scrappy startups and open source enthusiasts to those working in large global companies. If you're interested in deep and creative technology and conversations with some of its most interesting practitioners, this is the show for you. Come in and get yourself comfortable. Ten years and still going strong. Hosted by Chris Chinchilla. Show notes can be found at - chrischinchilla.com/podcast Formerly known as "Chinchilla Squeaks"
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Language: en

Genres: Science, Technology

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The hidden influences behind the algorithms that run our lives with Luca Belli
Episode 355
Thursday, 20 August, 2026

In this episode, I speak with Luca Belli about his forthcoming Manning book, “Hidden Influences,” which explains how algorithmic recommendation systems work from socio-technical and ethical perspectives rather than teaching readers to build them. Belli describes how recommenders and users shape each other, why debates about societal harms (including misinformation) often lack nuance, and why “working properly” is hard to define because value is personal and difficult to measure, leading platforms to optimise for engagement as a proxy with harmful side effects like clickbait. Drawing on his background in math, data science, and his work at Twitter, where he co-founded a machine learning ethics, transparency, and accountability team, he outlines the book’s framework-based, timeless structure and its coverage of moderation, measurement, societal impacts, and individual and policy responses. https://www.manning.com/books/hidden-influences For show notes and an interactive transcript, visit chrischinchilla.com/podcast/To reach out and say hello, visit chrischinchilla.com/contact/To support the show for ad-free listening and extra content, visit chrischinchilla.com/support/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.