Finding Humanity In The Algorithm School Of Computing

In many ways, we seem to live our lives according to the output of algorithms. They determine the suggestions for the next thing to watch on Netflix and the next thing to buy on Amazon. Our social-media timelines throw up posts that algorithms deem to popular or likely to be of particular interest to us – there are claims this process stoked the summer riots in the UK –... One way or another, algorithms are blamed for many of society’s ills. Over the course of their history, algorithms have proved to be an increasingly useful and powerful tool, while confronting humanity with an unsettling question – can all intellectual endeavour be explained, and pursued, in... Answers to this question, once discovered, gave birth to the rich field of computer science.

However, these answers were themselves strange and unsettling, and have been cast in new light by subsequent developments. At the Battle of Ideas festival this year, deputy director of the Progress Educational Trust Sandy Starr gave a lecture on the history of the algorithm. We’re delighted to publish Sandy’s expanded speech from the weekend’s discussion in full, below. You can also get a copy of his Letter on Liberty - AI: Separating Man from Machine - here. This lecture was given at the Battle of Ideas festival on 19 October 2024, and was dedicated to the memory of Professor Ross Anderson (1956-2024) and Dr Helene Guldberg (1965-2022). Ross Anderson established the Foundation for Information Policy Research, and did much to promote public understanding of algorithms.

Helene Guldberg was a founder of the online publication spiked, and her final published work was a spiked essay about the history of Islam, including a period that we discuss in this lecture. Artificial intelligence (AI) dominates the news, and has seen some astonishing advances in recent years, but is not itself new. “The advent of artificial intelligence presents our species with an historic opportunity — disguised as an existential challenge: Can we stay human in the age of AI? In fact, can we grow in humanity, can we shape a more humane, more just, and sustainable world?” — Melissa Nobles, Professor of Political Science Kenan Sahin Dean, MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, 2015-2021; MIT Chancellor, 2021- The advent of artificial intelligence presents our species with an historic opportunity — disguised as an existential challenge: Can we stay human in the age of AI?

In fact, can we grow in humanity, can we shape a more humane, more just, and sustainable world? I am cautiously optimistic that the answer will be yes because after several centuries of the ongoing industrial-technical revolution, we are reaching a new stage of maturity. As AI and other advanced technologies become ubiquitous in their influence and impact, touching nearly every aspect of life, we have increasingly seen the need to more consciously align powerful new technologies with core... Asking, for example, of every new technology and tool: Who will benefit? What are the potential ecological and social costs? Will the new technology amplify or diminish human accomplishments in the realms of justice, democracy, and personal privacy?

At the same time, we see an opportunity for advanced technologies to help solve a host of stubborn political, economic, and social issues that trouble today’s world by integrating technology with a humanistic analysis... In the sprawling intersection of technology and everyday life, algorithms dictate everything from the news we see to the way we shop, socialize, and make critical decisions. As these systems grow more pervasive, there’s a pressing need to reevaluate their roles and ensure they serve society beneficially and fairly. The idea of “reinserting humanity into the algorithm” calls for a harmonious blend of technological advancements and ethical considerations—a movement to imbue cold code with warm, human values. The rise of algorithmic influence, once confined to the realms of mathematics and computer science, now underpin vast segments of social and economic infrastructures. They recommend media, optimize logistics, control financial markets, and even influence legal rulings and policing tactics.

However, as their influence expands, so too does the risk of perpetuating biases, making opaque decisions, and eroding privacy. Recognizing the pitfalls, one of the main criticisms of widespread algorithmic decision-making is its opacity. Known as the "black box" phenomenon, the inner workings of complex algorithms, especially those driven by machine learning, can be inscrutable even to their creators. This lack of transparency can lead to decisions that are difficult to challenge or understand, from why a loan application was rejected to how a healthcare system prioritizes patient care. Moreover, algorithms can perpetuate and amplify biases. If the data used to train an algorithm contains historical biases or inequalities, the algorithm will likely continue to reflect those biases, affecting minority groups disproportionately.

Cases have been documented in recruitment, loan applications, and law enforcement where reliance on flawed algorithms has led to unjust outcomes. Ethical Frameworks and Human Oversight, the call to reintegrate humanity into algorithms revolves around developing ethical frameworks that guide the creation and deployment of these technologies. This involves: - Collaborative design involves embedding human values into algorithms, representing not only a technical challenge but also a fundamental design philosophy. It necessitates a multidisciplinary approach where ethicists, sociologists, and end-users are part of the development process, right from the start. This collaboration can ensure that algorithms are not only technically proficient but also culturally sensitive and aligned with societal norms and values.

In real-world applications several initiatives have shown how ethical considerations can be part of algorithmic design. For instance, cities that use predictive policing algorithms are starting to incorporate oversight committees that include community members to review and oversee the deployment of such technologies. In healthcare, AI applications that assist with patient diagnosis are being designed to provide explanations for their recommendations, which helps doctors make informed decisions. Algorithms are step-by-step instructions given to a computer that describe how to perform a task. Data literacy is the ability to understand data: how it is collected, where it comes from, and how to use it in different contexts. Think of a map.

If you were to look up directions to get somewhere, your computer might answer you with an algorithm, the shortest path to get there. But the data it uses is provided from various sources. There’s the data you input in your computer, and there’s the data that others have provided to be able to compute several paths for you to choose from. Being algorithm and data literate means being empowered to better understand how computers work and how algorithms use Artificial Intelligence (AI). But it also means that working with data is more fun, more creative, and more exciting than it’s ever been. Talk about it with your friends and teachers with the help of our discussion guide.

Published November 17, 2024 by Begum Orhan Imagine a machine dreaming in algorithms. What would it dream about? Would it conjure up visions of efficiency and optimization—or something closer to human longings, fears, and imagination? This speculative question isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. At the crossroads of artificial intelligence and the humanities, we find the most profound questions about what it means to be human in a world increasingly shaped by machines.

One of humanity’s defining traits is our ability to tell stories. Stories preserve culture, connect generations, and make sense of the world. AI, surprisingly, has entered this realm with tools that create poetry, write novels, and craft narratives. But can an AI understand what it means to suffer, love, or hope? And what happens to storytelling when machines, rather than humans, write the tales we consume? AI’s foray into creativity doesn’t diminish humanity’s role; instead, it amplifies it.

It challenges writers, filmmakers, and artists to reimagine their craft. It invites us to collaborate with the machine—not as competitors but as co-creators shaping the future of narrative. Every story has a moral, and in the story of AI, ethics is its guiding star. The humanities hold the compass, reminding us of questions that technology alone can’t answer: Whose stories are amplified by AI? Whose are erased? How can we ensure that the AI narrative we create is just, inclusive, and reflective of all human experiences?

A groundbreaking narrative on the urgency of ethically designed AI and a guidebook to reimagining life in the era of intelligent technology. (From left) Doctoral student Hannah Yamagata, research assistant professor Kushol Gupta, and postdoctoral fellow Marshall Padilla holding 3D-printed models of nanoparticles. Jin Liu, Penn’s newest economics faculty member, specializes in international trade.

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