Why is this? "Pattern recognition" is a frequent A.I. refrain,
but computers can't learn to spot patterns they've never seen.
The high-value targets in big data are invariably human: highly
adaptive adversaries such as terrorists and cybercriminals whose
ingenuity frustrates even the most advanced algorithms. Yet even
the nimblest fugitives leave clues, even patterns -- they're
just buried in an expanding universe of data, a challenge that
intensifies as we seek still more data, hoping it will yield
more insight. Adaptive adversaries require adaptive responses,
and this begins with asking questions rooted in human intuition.
While technology can certainly be a force multiplier for good or
evil, it's difficult to imagine a pure A.I. approach reverse-
engineering the machinations of a terrorist mastermind. When
U.S. intelligence tracked down Osama bin Laden, it was a
function of brilliant, resourceful people asking questions and
testing hypotheses using a variety of technologies.
Cybercriminals, as explored in m