It is very difficult to function in a society where algorithms are increasingly present if we are not able to understand them. And I’m not referring to traditional digital skills or advanced programming. Just as being able to read and write was essential for personal autonomy or the exercise of full citizenship, algorithmic literacy will allow us to continue to be free in this era when artificial intelligence will be ubiquitous. Otherwise there will be two classes of people, those who can use the algorithms and those who are used by them.
The digital citizenship we are moving towards requires that we educate ourselves in this new context where phrases have been replaced by lines of code. Automated systems spread quickly. Each time they decide or influence more aspects of our lives. It is a still opaque, invisible space. There is a general lack of knowledge about what they are, where they are used, what they are for and what their effects are. Currently there are also no audits or standards that guarantee its quality. How can a human decide whether they agree with the decision-making rules built into the artificial intelligence that controls their life without understanding them? Public and political opinion learns of its existence when the scandal erupts, as in the case of the Dutch government, which has been convicted of human rights abuses by using an algorithm against its own citizens.
The numbers speak for themselves. More than 90% of all searches worldwide come from the same place: Google. Every day billions of people trust their algorithm in everything. It’s not a one-way street, the internet provides information in exchange for our data. Do we know ways to protect ourselves? And to influence the algorithm? If you don’t understand how it works, you can find yourself trapped in a preference bubble where your view of the world is progressively reduced. And what we really don’t need are more trenches. And what about the generative artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT, which reached a million users in five days – it took Netflix more than three years –. As a society, are we prepared to recognize content that does not correspond to reality? Do we even begin to understand how this model learns?
Algorithmic competency can be defined as the ability to be aware of the use of algorithms in applications, platforms and online services. Understanding how they work, being able to critically evaluate decision-making, having the skills to deal with or even influence algorithmic operations. Remember that an algorithm is a set of rules or instructions whose use has been reinforced with artificial intelligence. In fact, there is already a generation that has only experienced a world mediated by them and is somewhat guided by the data collected, as their preferences determine what is shown to them on screens. Who is helping them?
Algorithms are ubiquitous, being integrated into our current socio-economic structures and into other aspects of daily life, including academic work. There is nothing negative about it, on the contrary, its large-scale application has had a positive impact. People can be more productive, know more about issues than ever before, spot trends, or better understand the world around them. Thanks to the latest generative advances, we are discovering new ways to relate to our creativity and knowledge. And it will only go further. This is precisely why we need to have the necessary driving skills to master the machine and not the other way around. It is time to advance the knowledge of technology and thereby redistribute the power of those who control it.
As always, schools and educational centers play a fundamental role. You have to start at the beginning. Privacy and how to manage settings to ensure privacy is maintained. Follow us as we are informed how to search; why you see what you see and in what order you do it. It would be interesting for students to reflect on how they investigate to learn to be more critical while mastering intent.
Society needs to be able to think about algorithms and their processes; assess their influence, understand their impact in social, cultural, economic and political contexts; and ultimately make the person a co-decision maker. We need to be better prepared for a reality where these automated systems are delegated. Ultimately, the need for algorithmic competence arises from the need to share power. Algorithms, especially those using machine learning and deep learning, are complex, opaque, invisible and protected by intellectual property, but most importantly, they impact people’s lives. Control rests with those who create and deploy them, not with those who use them. And that is exactly what needs to be changed. It’s not about learning to code, it’s about being an active part of the social design that’s being codified in technology.
Lucy Velasco is an economist and author of “Is an algorithm going to replace you?”.
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