There was a time when we lived in a society run by humans. Fast forward to the 21st century, we live in a society that is run by AI and governed by algorithms. If you are new to this word, then these are lines of computer code that control and manipulate data. These lines of computer code pretty much tell how this data should be used and put all together.
That algorithms control many of our thoughts and actions does not come as a surprise today. In modern society, algorithms are taking over our lives—bit by bit. These ubiquitous lines of code decide which friends we should make on social media and how to choose our movies and shows for our consumption. Algorithms hail cabs for us and even select candidates for the next vacancy in the organization. It is hoped that complex algorithms, one day, will drive vehicles and cars more safely than human beings do.
We invented machines to help us live more comfortable lives, but it seems machines are now taking over and controlling societies these days. Algorithms are now getting deeply entrenched in societies, as we, as humans, have come to rely on algorithms in recent years.
More and more AI-powered systems are coming online, and it seems our realities will become encoded with the flaws and biases these systems contain. For example, a certain online photo management app that helps you store, view, and edit photos online, consists of AI-powered deep learning. This photo app uses AI technology to learn more about human emotions and facial expressions. Although this might seem innocent enough, algorithms are already in our lives learning more about our financial data, location history, and even our medical conditions.
It’s a set of imperfect rules that governs society these days. Some experts believe that algorithms are a manifestation of such imperfect rules. The advent of ‘smart home’ devices is also an example of such a manifestation. The example of robotic surgery, which is another AI invention, is testimony to this fact.
It can be argued that healthcare is getting more expensive than before not because societies are getting less healthy, but because of the expenses involved in supporting the tech base that comprises much of the infrastructure today. This over-reliance on algorithms could create a dangerous situation in the tech-dominated societies of today. From global finance to medical science, human thought today is being manipulated by computer code. It all could end being a dangerous game—where we could be at the mercy of those who control technology.
Yet there’s a silver lining to this assumption. Perhaps balance will prevail between technology, algorithms, and humans and will propel society’s sense of survival to a more stable state. A situation could be reached, where humans and technology could co-exist in a state of symbiosis, and humans could control algorithms and not vice versa.
