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CHAPTER 20Algorithms

My Grandma Eunice makes the best blueberry pie. I don't know how she does it, but if you eat it warm with vanilla ice cream, you have yourself a winner. Not long ago it occurred to me that Grandma uses an algorithm to make that pie. It was not that she somehow used TikTok to make the pie or had some kitchen robot assist her. (She is not one for technology. The iPad we bought her for Christmas a few years back has made a lovely, expensive coaster for her coffee). Nevertheless, an algorithm is essentially “a set of guidelines to describe how to perform a task.” It can be a recipe for blueberry pie, or code programmed into social media or a department store website.

The term “algorithm” is thrown about a great deal. It is always seen as a creature that lives within large computers and knows many things about us. This is actually kind of true, except the creature part. We see algorithms in all parts of our lives, but usually as codes that tell computers what to do, and they usually consist of words like “and,” “then,” and “or.” Algorithms are used within social media, entertainment, police stations, hospitals, and just about anywhere else decisions of some sort are being made. Algorithms use our past behavior to tell us what to look at on social media and what to watch on Netflix. Based upon what we viewed previously, there is a good chance that we will like this or that. Algorithms are put into place so that we will stay on the website or social media platform ...