#Data17

26 May 2026

MLB Toolbox: Money and Baseball Performance

Boston University finance expert Mark Williams and colleagues created MLB Toolbox, a data platform that compares team payrolls with on-field performance. The site ranks teams by spending efficiency, wins and WAR and lets users test roster choices.

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Photo by Lauren Thimmesch, Unsplash

21 Apr 2026

When AI Favors Profit over People

Hija Kamran warns that tech companies often prioritise business models over people. She argues AI trained on biased internet and public records can amplify harms and calls for a human rights approach and early scepticism.

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16 Apr 2026

Rethinking 'the Human' in AI

Artist and writer Xonorika Kira argues that centring the human in AI can exclude other forms of knowledge and intelligence. She proposes practical changes like small, consent-based datasets and slower models to support communities and cultural sovereignty.

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13 Apr 2026

Study: Traditional TV ads less effective

Research from the University of Notre Dame finds traditional television ads are much less effective than believed. Advertisers still plan to spend $139 billion on linear TV versus $33 billion on streaming this year.

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24 Mar 2026

AI tool to improve cause-of-death data in low-income countries

Researchers created CODA, an AI tool to give more accurate causes of death in low-income countries where few deaths have documented causes. CODA can work in communities and health facilities and will begin limited trials.

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27 Feb 2026

Big tech links make farming tools costly

A report by IPES-Food warns that ties between large agricultural firms and big technology companies make digital farming tools expensive and hard to access for smallholder farmers. Authors call for public funding and stronger data rules.

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16 Feb 2026

How Data Is Changing the 2026 Winter Olympics

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, teams and researchers use data science, computer vision and wearable tech to study performance. These tools shape training, help broadcasters explain results, and raise questions about fairness and access.

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12 Feb 2026

New US database shows who withdraws water

Researchers at Virginia Tech created the first nationwide database of water withdrawals in the United States. The public dataset standardizes many records and shows early findings about irrigation and the power sector.

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19 Jan 2026

US–Africa health agreements draw scrutiny

A new set of bilateral health agreements between the United States and 14 African countries has prompted criticism. Critics say the deals affect control of health data, pathogen samples and tie funding to performance-based conditions.

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16 Dec 2025

Crop losses hit women farmers in western Kenya

In parts of western Kenya rains failed and crops stopped growing at the flowering stage, leaving fields brown and many farmers facing poor harvests. Women are especially affected because they often lack land, credit and legal rights.

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8 Dec 2025

AI expands sexual and reproductive health access in Latin America

Research groups in Peru and Argentina use AI tools to give sexual and reproductive health information to young and marginalised people. Experts praise potential but warn of bias and call for better data, rules and oversight.

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8 Dec 2025

AI expands sexual and reproductive health information in Peru and Argentina

Health groups in Peru and Argentina use artificial intelligence to give sexual and reproductive health information to young and marginalised people. Projects include a Quechua chatbot and a WhatsApp platform, but experts warn of bias and access problems.

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18 Nov 2025

Latin American groups build AI to study gender violence

Groups in Latin America create open, local AI tools to study gender inequalities and violence. Projects like AymurAI search court documents, protect sensitive data on local servers and help governments and civil society with evidence.

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