Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms

by Hannah Fry

This is the future I’m hoping for. One where the arrogant, dictatorial algorithms that fill many of these pages are a thing of the past. One where we stop seeing machines as objective masters and start treating them as we would any other source of power. By questioning their decisions; scrutinizing their motives; acknowledging our emotions; demanding to know who stands to benefit; holding them accountable for their mistakes; and refusing to become complacent. I think this is the key to a future where the net overall effect of algorithms is a positive force for society. And it’s only right that it’s a job that rests squarely on our shoulders. Because one thing is for sure. In the age of the algorithm, humans have never been more important.