Understanding Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence with the Future of Data Centres

Algorithms have existed for more than five thousand years. Are you wondering how the concepts of algorithms and data structures became such an important topic?

To understand algorithms and artificial intelligence, we first have to take a look at the computers and programs. Nowadays, we only see the rise of inventions and technological progress. By understanding algorithms, we can better understand computer systems, programs, and data structures.

About Algorithms

One of the biggest benefits of algorithms is that they can run mechanically. Once we learn how to look up a word in a dictionary or compute the greatest common divisor of two numbers, we can apply the algorithms we have learned repeatedly. This allows us to use our imagination and talent for other tasks or even invent new algorithms.

Today, we run computer dictionaries automatically, and this is only one example. Humans have been working on a different computational tasks for thousands of years. It is important to understand that machines and algorithms belong to different cultural spheres.

The first algorithms were invented by the Mesopotamians. Early machines needed a long time to develop the necessary techniques. The first machines capable of running symbolic algorithms were probably cathedral bells with automation systems that rang every hour. In addition, they calculated the position of planets and movable feast days. These mechanisms were followed in the seventeenth century by the inventions of Schickard and Pascal, and later by Leibniz’s calculator.

None of these machines were computers yet. A computer became a universal machine capable of running several symbolic algorithms. Universality was fully understood by Alan Turing and Alonzo Church in the 1930s. Ten years later, the first computer machines were built: Z3 in Berlin, ENIAC in Philadelphia, and Baby in Manchester. However, it is difficult to determine which one was truly first.

For a better understanding of algorithms and artificial intelligence, let’s take the example of mobile phone. Throughout the history, we connected the telephone, camera, watch, music player, and many other components into one single object － mobile phone. To use a machine like a mobile phone or computer, we have to indicate which algorithms and artificial intelligence tools are combined into mobile phone upgrades and applications.

From Algorithms to Computers

The description of an algorithm in a specific language is called a computer program written in a programming language, such as Java. The first computer programmer was a woman － Ada Lovelace, born in London in 1915. She produced the first computing program in the form of a mathematical algorithm.

Computers run algorithms on symbolic data. However, computers also store, transmit, and transform images, sounds, and videos. Computer images, for example, are represented by symbols, millions of pixels, and millions of colours.

Bytes are basic units important in computer data storage. They are used to represent information contained in a message. One byte is equal to eight bits, and with eight bits we can express 156 different messages.

• 1000 bytes = 1 kilobyte
• 1000 kilobytes = 1 megabyte
• 1000 megabytes = 1 gigabyte
• 1000 gigabytes = 1 terabyte
• 1000 terabytes = 1 petabyte

Through the history, computers became embedded in trains, cars, airplanes, tractors, and many other machines. Almost every modern machine is now part of a small computing network. This is how computers help us avoid traffic, receive information, and automate systems. Today algorithms and artificial intelligence are integrated into nearly all technical systems.

On the other hand, we all use universal computing system such as cameras, telephones, watches, music players, and e-readers. The variety of intelligent machines is often connected to robotics. The first humanoid robot concept was introduced by Karel Čapek in 1921, and today robots are developed to assist us with work, learning, and entertainment. Highly specialised industrial robots are now and important part of manufacturing industries.

One of my previous blog posts explains the history of robot development. You can read the article Artificial Intelligence Timeline: Revolution from the Start, which explains the evolution of artificial intelligence and the products humanity has been creating for more than 100 years.

Computer networks are slowly replacing postal systems, telephone systems, and television broadcasting networks. Algorithms are part of every computer system , helping us find the best and shortest possible result , answer, solution depending on our request.

To better understand the connection between computers, algorithms, and artificial intelligence: algorithms control objects through sensors. Sensors are made by humans. As much as we control algorithms we also control computers and the way artificial intelligence system function.

Example: The PageRank algorithm, created by Sergey Brin and Larry Page －the founders of Google － ranks websites in search engine results. When we enter the search term like “Elvis Presley”, the search engine selects web pages containing these words and displays them in the search results. They invented a simple PageRank algorithm and transformed it into a business model that allows content to reach higher rankings on Google. This is called On-Site SEO, and you can learn more about it in my new On-Site SEO Premium Guide.

Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence are Co-Creating Data Structures

Apart from domestic computers, there are also massive collections of millions of computers grouped together in facilities called data centres. We are living in an age where different computer systems are interconnected through algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Certain algorithms transport information across networks and even into space. Moving information through billions of connected computers requires complex algorithms and communication protocols, including the internet Protocol.

The amount of information generated by individuals has become an important issue, especially because of manipulation and misinformation. In the United States, the Freedom of Information Act from 1966 made government-produced data publicity accessible through websites such as data.gov.

Information from newspapers, television, and other media became far more accessible than before. Today, even more information is available through social networks, forums, and blogs. However, this also makes manipulation harder to avoid.

Big data analytics algorithms can be used for both positive and negative purposes. They can save lives or allow governments and corporations to monitor citizens while disregarding privacy rights. Still, algorithms themselves do not have intentions. Humans are the ones who give them purpose and meaning. Algorithms and artificial intelligence should therefore be used responsibly.

We all leave digital footprints with every click, post, message, online connection, … At the same time, we all have the right to privacy, and protecting it is also a collective responsibility regulated by the law. Government and larger corporations are often the most interested in our data. Many companies offer free services in exchanging for personal data, which can later be used for advertising or other purposes.

The New Age of Memory Digitalisation

How do we preserve our memory? It may seem logical that digitalising our memories frees us from the limitations of the human brain and analogue storage systems. However, this also creates new risks. By interacting with and and analysing data related to individuals, information systems can discover aspects of personality that people may prefer to keep private.

Big data analytical algorithms have reached even our unconscious behaviour. Similar to psychoanalysts, these systems are often less interested in logic than in words, associations, and behavioural correlations. Google, for example, refers to this process as deep learning. Algorithms can even predict what we may buy in the future.

The greatest concern today is how governments and corporations use our data. Governments should improve privacy regulations, while companies should develop ethical economic solutions. In this cycle, we are the ones who must decide what we want to remember and share.

We want algorithms and artificial intelligence systems to be fair because fairness society as a whole. However, fairness also requires responsibility. If systems are expected to treat people equally, they must avoid discrimination based on gender, ethnic origin, appearance, and similar factors.

Different Types of Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence Tools

There are many different types of algorithms. For example, symbolic and non-symbolic algorithms allow us to distinguish between objects such as dogs and cats with the support of human cognition. Computers themselves are structured made of millions of algorithms working together to process massive amounts of data and deliver results quickly.

In big data analytics, algorithms naturally tend to recommend the most popular choices. The more people watch a film or interact with certain information, the more frequently it is recommended to others. Because there are many types of algorithms, there are also many artificial intelligence tools designed for different purposes. Algorithms and artificial intelligence systems work exactly the way humans design them. It is up to decide how we want technology to shape our future, even in a world increasingly influenced by giant corporations.

Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence － The Way They Work

Algorithms and artificial intelligence imitate certain aspects of human intelligence: reasoning, understanding natural language, playing chess, analysing images, and much more. Artificial intelligence can solve many of these challenges through techniques and knowledge developed over years of research. Artificial intelligence is therefore the result of progress achieved across many specialised areas.

There are only a few similarities between language-processing algorithms and game-playing algorithms. Only because an algorithm can play chess extremely well does not mean it possesses all the qualities we associate with intelligence. For example, an artificial intelligence system may defeat a world chess champion while still being unable to fully understand the difference between a dog and a cat. Psychology constantly remind us that there are many different types of intelligence.

One of the pioneers of artificial intelligence was Marvin Minsky (1927-2016). He contributed greatly to cognitive science and robotics. Minsky believed that artificial intelligence was too complex to be explained by a single model or mechanism. His definition of artificial intelligence was: “Artificial intelligence is the science of making machines do things that would requrie intelligence if done by a men.”

In the age of algorithms and artificial intelligence, inventions are improving rapidly. Every new invention can inspire both amazement and concern. These innovations create opportunities for a better world, but they can also contribute to dangerous and dystopian outcomes.

Robots, for example, offer enormous possibilities. They can improve medical care, assist people in their daily lives, and increase human autonomy. However, technology becomes problematic when it replaces genuine human responsibility and care.

Algorithms provide us with a wide range of possibilities, making us more capable of shaping our own future. Avoiding selfishness and fear will not be easy, but it is possible. With algorithms and artificial intelligence, humanity has the opportunity to build a better, freer, and fairer world. The choice is ours.

“The Future of Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence”

*Source: “The Age of Algorithms (Serge Abiteboul, Gilles Dowek)

*Image Source: Computer History museum: The Leibniz Calculator, The Zuse Z3 Computer, ENIAC

Science and Industry Museum: Baby Computer