The Influence of Algorithms and the Future

Algorithms have become increasingly influential in shaping our future, with the potential to turn us into mere feed animals for data-hungry machines. These tools, which can be thought of as almost creatures or organisms themselves, are designed to capture our attention and serve us information based on our preferences and emotions. While their purpose is not necessarily nefarious, their efficiency at manipulating our attention raises concerns about our ability to discern reality and engage in productive discourse. As we become more reliant on these algorithms, our shared reality may be at risk, which is especially troublesome for democracy that depends on shared information for problem-solving.