Data Science Decisions in Time

Information Theory & Games

Thomas Woolf

This is part of our specialization on Making Decision in Time. For this third course we start with an intriguing study on SFPark and build new insights into the ideas that flow from this direction. The ending point should bring new code and new algorithm insights into perspective, and use, by many computer and data scientists.

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Syllabus

Dynamically Changing Environments and Game Theory

How should a control be adjusted to best achieve a desired outcome? We introduce the SFPark problem, a real parking management approach being used in SF. The question that we want to understand, via sequential methods and games, is how best to set the prices for spaces, dynamically during the day, to encourage a particular (say 15%) free space availability. The game is between the consumers (looking for parking) and the city (trying to optimize space, reducing those cruising for spaces and encouraging those coming for a meal or for shopping to have a parking space). This is a sequential decision problem that can also be described as a game.

Cooperative Games: How to Make Decisions with Missing and Ambiguous Information

Decision making as a shared endeavor rapidly extends game theory into many real world situations and helps us to see how these ideas can be applied to problems that impact all of us. We start with a discussion about water resources and their allocation. This then is tied back to how we think about the classic problem of the prisoner's dilemma.

Predicting and Understanding Your Game Opponents

For many real-world settings we are not fully cooperative and may even be playing a game with antagonistic opponents. Understanding an optimal strategy for these settings means paying attention to the moves possible from the opponent and what they mean for your own optimal actions. We start with considerations of cybersecurity and then move into the classic Centipede Game.

Sequential Social Environments: Optimal Play

The game of Diplomacy is a challenge due to the many combinatorial options that can flow from a set of decisions. The game can be quite complex to play and also provides an excellent training ground for computer algorithms. In this part of the course we look at the general nature of complex social interactions and the models for game play that can be used to define optimal policies.

Seeing Relevant Information - Avoiding Distribution Shifts and Being Relevant

In this fifth module we aim to generalize from our study of games as objects in their own right to algorithms and informational settings where the ideas from game theory can inspire new insights and ways to see into large and diverse datasets. We start with a common clinical problem: how to classify a radiological image. As we think about the challenges of this setting, including extracting and seeing the relevant features, we set the frame for our goals with this fifth week. In particular, how can we find the most important, and ideally invariant, features that best describe our problem and that can be used for making decisions.

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data Science Decisions in Time: Information Theory & Games with these activities:

Review key concepts in game theory

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Brushing up on fundamental concepts will help you understand the more advanced topics covered in this course.

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Go over your lecture notes or textbook chapters on game theory.
Review online resources or articles to reinforce your understanding.
Solve practice problems to test your knowledge.

Compile a collection of resources on game theory and its applications

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Creating a compilation will provide you with a valuable reference and help you stay organized.

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Identify different types of resources (e.g., books, articles, videos).
Search for and gather relevant resources.
Organize and categorize the resources.
Consider creating an online repository or sharing your compilation with others.

Attend conferences or meetups focused on game theory or artificial intelligence

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Attending events will allow you to connect with professionals in the field, learn about current research, and stay up-to-date with industry trends.

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Identify relevant conferences or meetups in your area.
Register and attend the events.
Engage with speakers, attendees, and exhibitors.
Follow up with interesting contacts.

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Practice solving game theory problems

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Regular practice will strengthen your problem-solving skills and improve your ability to apply game theory concepts.

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Start with easier problems and gradually increase the difficulty.
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Explore online tutorials on advanced game theory topics

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Following guided tutorials will introduce you to new concepts and techniques that can extend your knowledge.

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Identify specific topics or areas where you want to expand your knowledge.
Search for reputable online tutorials or courses on those topics.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises or assignments.

Develop a case study on a real-world application of game theory

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Creating a case study will deepen your understanding of game theory and its practical implications.

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Choose a specific real-world scenario that involves game theory.
Research and gather data on the scenario.
Analyze the scenario using game theory principles.
Develop recommendations based on your analysis.
Write up your case study and share it with others.

Contribute to open-source projects related to game theory or artificial intelligence

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Contributing to open-source projects will provide you with hands-on experience and deepen your understanding of the latest advancements.

Browse courses on AI Algorithms

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Find open-source projects that align with your interests and skill level.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
Make code contributions, bug fixes, or documentation improvements.
Engage with the project community and learn from others.

Career center

Learners who complete Data Science Decisions in Time: Information Theory & Games will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: