El Algoritmo
(The Algorithm)
Elena llevaba tres años perfeccionando el algoritmo que podia predecir las decisiones vitales de cualquier persona con un noventa y ocho por ciento de precision.
Elena had spent three years perfecting the algorithm that could predict the life choices of any person with ninety-eight per cent accuracy.
Habia alimentado el sistema con millones de registros anonimos: historiales medicos, patrones de consumo e interacciones en redes sociales.
She had fed the system with millions of anonymous records: medical histories, consumption patterns and social media interactions.
Lo que empezo como un proyecto academico en la Universidad de Madrid se habia convertido en algo que ninguna empresa tecnologica habia logrado antes.
What started as an academic project at the University of Madrid had become something that no technology company had achieved before.
Sus colegas dudaban de que fuera posible, pero los resultados preliminares les dejaron sin palabras.
Her colleagues doubted it was possible, but the preliminary results left them speechless.
Una noche de noviembre, sola en su laboratorio, decidio hacer algo que se habia prohibido a si misma desde el principio: introducir sus propios datos en el sistema.
One November night, alone in her laboratory, she decided to do something she had forbidden herself from the very beginning: enter her own data into the system.
Sabia que quizá hubiera sido mejor no saber, pero la curiosidad cientifica que la habia empujado durante toda su carrera no le permitia resistirse.
She knew that perhaps it would have been better not to know, but the scientific curiosity that had driven her throughout her entire career would not allow her to resist.
Tecleo su nombre, autorizo el acceso a sus registros personales y espero.
She typed her name, authorised the access to her personal records and waited.
Los resultados aparecieron como una cronologia precisa de su futuro.
The results appeared as a precise timeline of her future.
El algoritmo predecia que dejaria la universidad en menos de un año, que su relación con Marcos terminaria antes del verano.
The algorithm predicted that she would leave the university in less than a year, that her relationship with Marcos would end before the summer.
Pero habia una linea mas al final del informe.
But there was one more line at the end of the report.
Segun el sistema, existia una probabilidad muy alta de que desarrollara una enfermedad neurologica grave antes de cumplir los cincuenta años.
According to the system, there was a very high probability that she would develop a serious neurological illness before turning fifty.
Elena leyo aquella linea con las manos temblando sobre el teclado.
Elena read that line with her hands trembling over the keyboard.
Su primera reacción fue negar los resultados, convencerse de que el sistema no podia ser tan preciso cuando se trataba de salud.
Her first reaction was to deny the results, to convince herself that the system could not be so precise when it came to health.
Pero ella misma habia disenado cada variable, habia verificado cada formula.
But she herself had designed every variable, had verified every formula.
Si el algoritmo hubiera tenido algun fallo, lo habria detectado mucho antes.
If the algorithm had had some flaw, she would have detected it long before.
La prediccion no era una opinión; era matematica pura.
The prediction was not an opinion; it was pure mathematics.
O al menos eso era lo que siempre habia creido.
Or at least that was what she had always believed.
Durante semanas, considero sus opciones.
For weeks, she considered her options.
Podia publicar el algoritmo y permitir que otros se beneficiaran: hospitales, gobiernos, millones de personas podrian anticipar enfermedades y tomar decisiones informadas.
She could publish the algorithm and allow others to benefit: hospitals, governments, millions of people could anticipate illnesses and make informed decisions.
¿Pero que pasaria si un empleador usara el sistema para rechazar candidatos cuyo futuro médico resultara costoso?
But what would happen if an employer used the system to reject candidates whose medical future turned out to be costly?
¿Que ocurriria si las aseguradoras negaran cobertura a quienes el algoritmo condenara de antemano?
What would happen if insurers denied coverage to those the algorithm condemned in advance?
El conocimiento que podia salvar vidas también podia destruirlas.
The knowledge that could save lives could also destroy them.
Marcos la encontro una mañana sentada en el suelo del salón, rodeada de ecuaciones.
Marcos found her one morning sitting on the living room floor, surrounded by equations.
Elena lo miro y, sin que el lo supiera, comparo su rostro con el de un hombre que pronto ya no estaria a su lado.
Elena looked at him and, without him knowing, compared his face with that of a man who would soon no longer be by her side.
Quiso contarle todo, pero temia que la verdad arruinara lo que les quedaba juntos.
She wanted to tell him everything, but she feared that the truth would ruin what they had left together.
Le sonrio y le dijo que estaba bien.
She smiled at him and told him she was fine.
A las tres de la madrugada del último día de noviembre, abrio el terminal por ultima vez.
At three in the morning on the last day of November, she opened the terminal for the final time.
Bastaba una tecla para borrar años de trabajo, para devolver al mundo la incertidumbre que siempre habia tenido.
One keystroke was enough to erase years of work, to give the world back the uncertainty it had always had.
Penso en los enfermos que podrian haberse salvado.
She thought about the sick who could have been saved.
Pero también penso en como la certeza le habia robado la capacidad de disfrutar del presente.
But she also thought about how certainty had stolen from her the ability to enjoy the present.
Pulso la tecla.
She pressed the key.
La pantalla se quedo en negro.
The screen went black.
Y por primera vez en semanas, respiro sin que el futuro le pesara sobre los hombros.
And for the first time in weeks, she breathed without the future weighing upon her shoulders.
Key Vocabulary
el algoritmo algorithm
predecir to predict
la incertidumbre uncertainty
la certeza certainty
la aseguradora insurance company
la cobertura coverage
imprudente reckless, unwise
la madrugada early morning, small hours
borrar to erase, to delete
la prediccion prediction, forecast