Welcome to the “algoworld” (Image: Mike McGregor for New Scientist)
Our decisions, our culture, even our physical landscapes are being shaped by computer algorithms, says Kevin Slavin. He tells Alison George why we should be worried
You claim that our lives are ruled by algorithms. In what way?
Put simply, an algorithm is a set of instructions that a computer uses to make a decision about something. They are like an invisible architecture that underpins almost everything that’s happening. The way Wal-Mart prices its goods, the movies you rent on Netflix, the contours of the car you drive –…
