How Algorithms Are Being Used
Uploaded on 2019-05-07 in TECHNOLOGY--Developments, FREE TO VIEW
Tasks performed by computers consist of algorithms. An algorithm is a well-defined procedure that allows a computer to solve a problem. A particular problem can typically be solved by more than one algorithm. Optimisation is the process of finding the most efficient algorithm for a given task.When you are telling the computer what to do, you also get to choose how it's going to do it. That's where computer algorithms come in. The algorithm is the basic technique used to get the job done. Let's follow an example to help get an understanding of the algorithm concept. Let's say that you have a friend arriving at the airport, and your friend needs to get from the airport to your house.
Here are four different algorithms that you might give your friend for getting to your home:
The taxi algorithm:
1. Go to the taxi stand.
2. Get in a taxi.
3. Give the driver my address.
The call-me algorithm:
1. When your plane arrives, call my mobile.
2. Meet me outside baggage claim.
The rent-a-car algorithm:
1. Take the shuttle to the rental car place.
2. Rent a car.
3. Follow the directions to get to my house.
The bus algorithm:
1. Outside baggage claim, catch bus number 70.
2. Transfer to bus 14 on Main Street.
3. Get off on Elm street.
4. Walk two blocks north to my house.
All four of these algorithms accomplish exactly the same goal, but each algorithm does it in completely different way. Each algorithm also has a different cost and a different travel time.
Taking a taxi, for example, is probably the fastest way, but also the most expensive. Taking the bus is definitely less expensive, but a whole lot slower. You choose the algorithm based on the circumstances. Without even thinking about it, we interact with AI and Algorithms all the time.
For instance, Siri finds the right café, a nearby pizza places or service station. Alexa turns on lights and gives the day’s forecast. So it may come as no surprise that AI is now a deep but unseen part of your job hunting. Organisations are increasingly using AI to take the human guesswork out of job searches and find the candidates whose CV and resumes are the type they are searching for.
If you are looking to get employed by a particular organisation the first step to a successful job hunt is knowing how their algorithms work. Then, custom your CV so that the AI analysis works to your advantage. Between 2014 and 2017 Amazon tried to build an algorithmic system to analyse the CVs, applications and resumes to employee the best workers. The business trained the algorithm on 10 years of its own hiring data and the algorithm became biased against female applicants. Words like “women,” caused the algorithm to rank applicants lower.
Analysis of Voters
We are now going into a future, where AI and Algorithms might be used to influence and find the politically relevant voters.
By analysing lots different data about individual’s and the way they can be influenced and might join political parties. This whole AI process could get a clearer picture of the people influencers should connect with. This process could also be used to create ‘relevant’ propaganda and fake news that helps to bring voters and potential party members on-board.
You Might Also Read:
