Clara Grima, mathematician: "We are going to do what machines cannot"

"Algorithms govern our virtual lives, and this has earned them a bad reputation, linked to biased, dangerous or harmful use. Shedding this reputation is the aim of the latest book byClara Grima, PhD in Mathematics and Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Seville, entitled Con algoritmos y a lo loco (With Algorithms, It's Crazy). Subtitled "Because algorithms aren't as bad as they seem," the book reviews the history of these ordered sets of instructions that underpin much of our daily routine, from checking accounts in a banking app to navigating to an unfamiliar destination."

"The word 'algorithm' wasn't familiar to the general public until the advent of computer algorithms, when it is the first thing you learn in math class, explains Grima, who combines her teaching and research work with science communication. Algorithms are operations as basic as addition and subtraction; however, the term's use has been popularized by its misuse in digital environments, from its application in social media to music recommendations. But in themselves "algorithms are neither good nor bad," argues Grima. Like almost everything in technology, it depends on how they are used."

Recent advances in technology and artificial intelligence popularized the term algorithm beyond mathematics. Algorithms now govern many everyday activities, which has generated concerns about bias, danger, and harm. The term became widely known with computer algorithms and basic mathematical operations such as addition and subtraction. Misuse in digital environments, including social media and recommendation systems, amplified negative perceptions. Algorithms themselves are neutral; their effect depends on application. Some algorithms, like the Fast Fourier Transform, have profound, creative, and practical applications across image, audio processing, and optimization. Improved algorithmic design can mitigate misuse.

Read at Computerworld