In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for calculations. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing and automated reasoning. (definition by Wikipedia)
I’ve been hearing a lot about algorithms recently. I saw an article the other day on different methods SETI is using to search for life on other planets, and it was all about algorithms. The Drake Equation is really more of an algorithm than an equation, too, come to think about it. And, of course, facebook uses algorithms to decide what ads they are going to show you, and even which posts they are going to prioritize in your feed, which has got a lot of people all pissed off.
I’m a bit miffed myself,but only because I suspect that not many people are seeing my posts. Whether they are in chronological order, reverse chronological order, or friends and family first, there has to be some system of prioritization. facebook’s algorithm is, apparently, quite complex, but I suppose it’s as fair as anything else. The ones whose posts are being prioritized are undoubtedly happy as clams about it.
It’s sort of like in sports. Whatever decision the referee makes, 50% of the fans are going to be unhappy about it.
The interesting thing about algorithms, to me, is the 2nd sentence of that definition. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing and automated reasoning. Automated reasoning. How is that not exactly the same thing as artificial intelligence? Rhetorical question. It is exactly the same thing.
So, we have artificial intelligence. An early version of it, anyway. facebook’s algorithm still assumes ridiculous things about people, can’t recognize sarcasm (you could say something extremely critical about candidate x, and then you will get lots of ads and requests for donations from candidate x), and doesn’t have an empathetic view of what motivates human beings. It’s a bit like a 5 year old.
The question is not “When will computers develop artificial intelligence?” They’ve already got it. The question is “When is artificial intelligence going to grow up, already?”
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