Let’s start with a thought experiment: If a dice is thrown by a human or a monkey, does it change the outcome? Of course not. But when it comes to personal finance, humans and "monkeys" coexist—and their decisions have real consequences.

Daniel Kahneman, in his book Noise, makes a critical distinction between two types of variability: Bias and Noise.

Bias is easier to identify because it involves consistent errors in the same direction. Noise, on the other hand, is scattered variability—ubiquitous and often unnoticed.

Take the example of doctors, judges, or examiners. Empirical studies have shown they often give inconsistent diagnoses, sentences, or grades when faced with identical cases. This variability isn’t systematic; it’s noise. And in personal finance, this randomness is pervasive.

The Impact of Noise in Personal Finance

Imagine the CEO of the world’s largest health insurance company deciding to tighten claim approvals after a daylight shooting incident. While this decision might appear rational, it often trickles down as noise in the form of denied or partially approved claims—an experience many of us are all too familiar with.

At VISO, we are on a mission to reduce this noise. While bias can be mitigated by analyzing consistent data trends, tackling noise requires peeling back layers of scattered variability.

How VISO Reduces Noise

Implicit Noise:

This involves analyzing and improving processes based on real-world archetypes and rulebooks. We dive into historical data and user experiences to uncover patterns.

Explicit Noise:

By examining third-party administrators (TPAs) and claims assessors, we identify patterns tied to age, gender, region, and insurers. This helps us uncover hidden biases and inconsistencies.

Our algorithms, powered by AI and machine learning, continuously fine-tune decisions based on these insights. By conducting noise audits, we declutter the decision-making process, empowering individuals to make better choices.

Why This Matters

Noise leads to confusion and often poor decision-making, especially in moments of vulnerability—when we need clarity the most. Whether it’s seeking a second opinion or navigating insurance claims, reducing noise ensures decisions are objective and fact-based.

At VISO, we aim to ensure that the "monkey" doesn’t bite when you’re at your most vulnerable. With our suite of tools, we’re here to cancel out the noise.