The algorithm is used by health care providers to screen patients for \"high-risk care management\" intervention. Under this system, patients who have especially complex medical needs are automatically flagged by the algorithm. Once selected, they may receive additional care resources, like more attention from doctors. As the researchers note, the system is widely used around the United States, and for good reason. Extra benefits like dedicated nurses and more primary care appointments are costly for health care providers.

Taking a deeper look

Apple said its profit increased to $11. 52 billion in its most recent quarter, up nearly a third from the same period a year earlier, showing that the company’s enormous business selling iPhones and other gadgets continues to breeze along. *

Why it matters

The strong results beat Wall Street estimates, sending the company’s shares about 4 percent higher on Wednesday to a new record and for a market value of more than $950 billion.

As a result, he said, algorithms have magnified our worst tendencies and \"rogue actors and even governments\" have used our data against us \"to deepen divisions, incite violence and even undermine our shared sense of what is true and what is false.\"

In one piercing portion, Mr. Cook criticized how companies like Facebook and Google — while taking care not to mention them by name — deliver personalized news feeds that lead to so-called filter bubbles and confirmation bias.