Algorithms and machines are increasingly dictating the decisions that shape our lives.

From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, technology subtly influences our choices, often without our conscious awareness.

Most science agrees with the fact we're wired in such a way most of our decisions are made subconsciously. Add the fact our subconscious is being assaulted with with such hyper-targeted messaging, many people agree our algorithms often know us better than some family and friends.

We already have a limited amount of agency to work with. We didn't decide our gender, our height, or the color or our skin. We didn't choose when or how we were born, who our parents would be, or where we grew up.

We didn't choose the history that came before us. A strange history that transformed over time through inconceivable potential variations until we arrived within this specific storyline.

And we didn't choose to exist at a time when more people spend time with their devices than with the ones they love.

Many of today's technologies are obviously wonderful, and some make our world an even better place to live in.

I just want to point at the idea we're continuing to outsource our will perhaps more than we're willing.

We may not have control over whether these technologies exist, but we may carve out the agency in deciding how we want to coexist.

The Magic of Agency

Sure, we don't have a 'free' will that enables us to willingly behave in certain ways forever, but our ability to be conscious, self-reflect, and sometimes choose to behave differently is what makes us special.

Our agency is our magic. It's the pixie dust that can help us actually forge a life 'we' want.

We still fall victim to the emotional pull of subconscious desires, but it's this conscious self that helps us logically understand our behavior so that we may course correct it.

This push/pull of our 'lower' and 'higher' self is the spark of our humanity. And it's reflected in every religious story, from Jesus to Buddha.

Unfortunately, today's digital algorithms are eating away at this agency one byte at a time making us more reliant on automated systems.

The History of Algorithms

The concept of algorithms is not new; it dates back to ancient times. The term itself is derived from the name of the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi, whose works in the 9th century laid the groundwork for algebra and algorithmic thought.

However, it wasn't until the 20th century, with the advent of computers, that algorithms began to evolve into the powerful tools we know today.

In the 1940s and 1950s, pioneers like Alan Turing and John von Neumann developed the theoretical foundations of computer science, including the concept of a universal machine capable of performing any computation.

The subsequent decades saw exponential growth in computational power and the development of increasingly sophisticated algorithms. By the late 20th century, machine learning and artificial intelligence began to take shape, leading to the current era where algorithms are deeply integrated into every aspect of our lives.

The Relentless Advance of Technology

The rise of algorithms has been meteoric, driven by advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning. These algorithms are designed to process vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make decisions at speeds and accuracies that far surpass human capabilities.

While this has led to numerous efficiencies and conveniences, it has also resulted in a significant reduction in human decision-making.

Each technological advancement brings with it a new layer of automation and a further delegation of human decision-making to machines.

Incremental Erosion of Agency

• 1980s-1990s: The early days of personal computing and the internet saw the first widespread use of algorithms to sort and manage data. Basic recommendation systems began to appear, influencing consumer choices in media and retail.
• 2000s: The rise of e-commerce and social media platforms brought more sophisticated algorithms that started to shape our online experiences. Search engines, driven by complex algorithms, determined the information we could easily access.
• 2010s: The proliferation of smartphones and mobile apps embedded algorithms even deeper into our daily routines. AI-driven assistants like Siri and Alexa began making decisions for us, from setting reminders to controlling smart home devices.
• 2020s: Advanced machine learning and deep learning algorithms are now ubiquitous. They drive autonomous vehicles, manage our financial investments, and even make medical diagnoses. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of AI in remote work and telehealth, further integrating algorithms into critical aspects of our lives.

The Future of AI and Agency

Looking ahead, the influence of AI and algorithms on human agency is set to grow even more profound. Here are some areas where this trend is likely to continue:

Workplace Automation

As AI becomes more capable, more tasks and jobs will be automated, reducing the need for human intervention in many fields. From manufacturing to service industries, AI will take over repetitive and complex tasks alike.

Decision-Making in Governance

Governments and public sector organizations will increasingly rely on AI to make policy decisions, allocate resources, and manage public services. This could streamline operations but also raise concerns about accountability and transparency.

Healthcare Advancements

AI will play a more significant role in personalized medicine, predicting health issues before they arise and tailoring treatments to individual genetic profiles. While this promises better health outcomes, it also means more personal data being processed by algorithms.

Education and Learning

AI-driven personalized learning will become the norm, with algorithms determining the pace and content of education for each student. This could lead to more efficient learning but also reduce the human element in teaching.

Consumer Behavior

Marketing algorithms will become even more adept at predicting and influencing consumer behavior. From hyper-targeted advertising to personalized shopping experiences, our buying decisions will be increasingly shaped by AI.

Ethical and Societal Implications

As algorithms continue to take over more aspects of our lives, it is crucial to consider the ethical and societal implications. The erosion of human agency raises several important questions:

Bias and Fairness: Algorithms can perpetuate and even exacerbate biases present in their training data, leading to unfair outcomes in areas like hiring, lending, and law enforcement.
Privacy: The extensive data collection required to fuel AI systems poses significant privacy risks. Balancing the benefits of personalized services with the need to protect individual privacy will be a critical challenge.
Accountability: When decisions are made by algorithms, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for negative outcomes. Establishing clear lines of accountability is essential to ensure that AI systems are used responsibly.

The rise of algorithms and automated systems is reshaping our world in significant ways. While they bring numerous benefits, including efficiency, accuracy, and convenience, they also pose challenges to human agency, privacy, and fairness.

Regaining the Spark

All that being said, this technology isn't going anywhere.

And remember, we didn't choose to be alive during a time where everything is changing and moving at incomprehensible speeds.

I don't have all the answers of what to do or how all of this will pan out, but I do know I still have a little bit of that conscious spark in me.

And I'm going to use it to try and carve out as much agency as I can.

50 Ways AI and Algorithms A Undermining Our Autonomy

1. Autonomous Vehicles: Self-driving cars and trucks are beginning to make decisions about routes, speed, and driving maneuvers without human intervention.

2. Online Shopping Recommendations: Algorithms determine which products are shown to users based on their browsing and purchase history, influencing buying decisions.

3. Social Media Feeds: Algorithms curate what content appears in users’ feeds, shaping their information consumption and social interactions.

4. Smart Home Devices: Thermostats, lights, and security systems can automatically adjust settings based on user behavior and preferences.

5. Financial Trading: High-frequency trading algorithms execute trades at speeds and frequencies that humans cannot match, influencing market dynamics.

6. Credit Scoring: Automated systems evaluate creditworthiness using data analytics, affecting loan approvals and interest rates.

7. Job Recruitment: AI-driven platforms screen resumes and rank candidates, often determining who gets interviewed.

8. Healthcare Diagnostics: AI systems analyze medical images and data to diagnose diseases, sometimes more accurately than human doctors.

9. Customer Service: Chatbots and automated systems handle a significant portion of customer service interactions, reducing the need for human agents.

10. Content Creation: Algorithms generate news articles, music, and videos, influencing what people read, hear, and watch.

11. Personal Assistants: Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa make decisions about scheduling, reminders, and information retrieval.

12. Navigation Systems: GPS and mapping services decide the best routes for travel, often without user input.

13. Advertising: Programmatic advertising platforms automatically place ads based on user data, targeting audiences more precisely than manual methods.

14. Smart Cities: Urban management systems control traffic lights, public transportation, and energy distribution to optimize city functioning.

15. Education: Personalized learning platforms adapt to student performance, customizing lessons and assessments.

16. Music Streaming: Services like Spotify use algorithms to create playlists and recommend songs based on listening habits.

17. Fitness Tracking: Wearable devices monitor physical activity and suggest workouts and health tips.

18. Fraud Detection: Financial institutions use machine learning to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions.

19. Translation Services: AI-powered translation tools provide instant translations, reducing the need for human translators.

20. Online Dating: Algorithms match individuals based on compatibility scores, influencing romantic relationships.

21. Voting Systems: Electronic voting machines and online voting platforms automate parts of the electoral process.

22. Weather Forecasting: Advanced models predict weather patterns with high accuracy, guiding daily activities and planning.

23. Supply Chain Management: Automated systems optimize inventory levels, order fulfillment, and logistics.

24. Security Surveillance: AI analyzes footage from security cameras to detect suspicious activities and alert authorities.

25. Energy Management: Smart grids and home energy management systems optimize energy use based on consumption patterns and weather forecasts.

26. Automated Legal Analysis: AI systems review legal documents and case law to provide analysis and predictions about legal outcomes.

27. Agriculture: Precision farming technologies, including drones and sensors, determine planting patterns, irrigation schedules, and pest control measures.

28. Voice Assistants: Devices like Google Home and Amazon Echo make decisions on home automation tasks and provide information on demand.

29. Transportation Scheduling: Algorithms optimize public transportation schedules and routes to improve efficiency and reduce wait times.

30. Retail Inventory Management: Automated systems manage stock levels, reorder products, and predict future inventory needs based on sales data.

31. News Filtering: AI curates and personalizes news feeds based on user preferences and reading history.

32. Loan Underwriting: Algorithms assess risk and approve or deny loan applications based on complex data analysis.

33. Facial Recognition: Security systems use AI to identify individuals in crowds, controlling access to secure areas.

34. Online Moderation: Automated systems detect and remove inappropriate content from social media platforms and forums.

35. Autonomous Drones: Drones perform tasks like package delivery, surveillance, and agricultural monitoring without human pilots.

36. Financial Planning: Robo-advisors provide investment advice and manage portfolios with minimal human intervention.

37. AI Doctors & Coaches: Robots perform surgery and AI provides personalized health and fitness advice based on user data and goals.

38. Email Filtering: Spam filters and priority inboxes decide which emails are seen first or blocked entirely.

39. Virtual Shopping Assistants: AI helps customers find products, compare prices, and complete purchases in online stores.

40. Autonomous Construction Equipment: Machinery such as bulldozers and cranes operate autonomously on construction sites.

41. Virtual Reality: VR systems create immersive environments for training, entertainment, and therapy, guided by AI.

42. Crisis Management: AI analyzes data to predict and manage responses to natural disasters and emergencies.

43. Dynamic Pricing: E-commerce platforms and airlines use algorithms to adjust prices based on demand, competition, and other factors.

44. Smart Contracts: Blockchain-based smart contracts execute transactions automatically when predefined conditions are met.

45. Smart Grid Management: AI balances supply and demand in electricity grids to prevent outages and improve efficiency.

46. Predictive Maintenance: AI monitors machinery and infrastructure to predict failures and schedule maintenance proactively.

47. Sentiment Analysis: Algorithms analyze social media and customer reviews to gauge public sentiment and influence marketing strategies.

48. Personalized Marketing: AI customizes marketing messages and campaigns based on individual consumer behavior and preferences.

49. Remote Work Monitoring: Software tracks productivity and activity of remote workers to manage performance.

50. Clinical Trial Matching: AI matches patients with appropriate clinical trials based on their medical profiles.