Algorithms in charge of our lives

Algorithms are increasingly part of our lives, which is why we need to understand what they are and the possibilities they offer us. It is easy to understand the function of algorithms when we compare them, for example, to a simple recipe. To make a cake you need to follow a defined set of instructions ─ preheat the oven; mix flour, sugar and eggs; add yeast; pour into a baking dish; and bake for a set time. Algorithms, like recipes, are detailed instructions for solving a problem or completing a task. And they have become widely known as essential elements in the functioning of computers, which are part of our daily lives.

Computers do not understand our language and, therefore, programmers created languages ​​that serve as a bridge between us, humans, and the machine. Thus, they write algorithms to give commands to the machine, from the most common, such as making a mathematical calculation, to the most complex, such as interpreting images or controlling satellites in the Earth's orbit or other planets. This is a field of knowledge that has been achieving dizzying advances in recent years, to the point that many claim that the future belongs to algorithms, which will be in charge of industries, commerce, autonomous vehicles and even robots that will mimic human beings in the most varied activities.

Algorithms designed to generate immense volumes of data from our systematic use of computers and smartphones or everyday objects – mainly household items and clothing – are already part of our daily lives. When using internet search engines, browsing social media or making online purchases, we are feeding databases about our behavior and preferences. Thus, increasingly sophisticated algorithms are used to generate our life history and find patterns in our data that indicate what we like to consume, the sports we play, who we interact with, and even decisions we will make in the future. The implications of such advances are obviously enormous, although very difficult to measure precisely.

But, as the sophistication of algorithms makes it possible to produce and use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in practice, discussions around these implications will inevitably deepen. This reality will come with the increasing production and dissemination of devices capable of simulating human abilities, which, in turn, include the ability to see, hear, make decisions and solve problems. The expectation is that, soon, we will have devices that mimic human capabilities, including reasoning and intelligence. Such advances could have a transformative effect, representing great opportunities in various fields of human activity, such as medicine, commerce, finance, education, agriculture, transport, etc.

Such advances could also pose dangers, for which we are not prepared. Imagine when devices operated by algorithms capable of imitating our brain and “learning” complex functions through repetition of tasks with successive improvements and improvements become widespread. Devices that can be trained to “think” in a similar way to us humans, seeking continuous improvement based on experience. What scares us is the possibility of such machines becoming more capable than us, a phenomenon known as “singularity” – the possible emergence of devices capable of self-improvement, generating a superintelligence that radically alters civilization and human nature.

What seems like science fiction needs to be taken seriously for a very simple reason: while we, humans, access and improve knowledge through years of dedication and study or countless interactions with other humans, computers interconnected in large global networks and equipped of algorithms capable of self-improvement will be able to access and process immense amounts of data and information at great speed, free from any temporal, cultural or linguistic barriers. They would thus gain the ability to solve extremely complex problems and learn new skills significantly faster than us, with unpredictable consequences.

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence heralds the threshold of a new era, with profound implications for society. Given this, more attentive governments, supported by their scientific communities, are defining agendas that guide the development of Artificial Intelligence, and also defining measures to identify and manage risks, without slowing down scientific and technological progress. The task is complex and we will need to use our creativity and imagination to always put ourselves ahead of the algorithms. What's more, we will need to be able to teach future generations the skill of reinvention, which will allow them to overcome the dangers created by human ingenuity itself.