Algorithms are central to modern mathematics and computer science. They are explicit procedures valued for their clarity, efficiency and beauty. Beyond these fields, however, the word “algorithm” is most likely to evoke social media feeds, targeted advertising or a combination of the two of the two.

Through algorithms, mathematics has become culturally visible as the force behind opaque processes – with unsettling consequences. Public familiarity with algorithms has grown much faster than familiarity with the mathematical ideas they embody.

The changing use of the word algorithm reflects this enhanced visibility. In fact, the meaning of this word has changed dramatically over time, and has always varied between specialist and general use. With the emergence of AI, which is nothing more than a collection of algorithms, this discrepancy has a genuine effect on societal discourse.

People sometimes speak of algorithms as they might speak about the weather. Algorithms are simply there, surrounding us, producing broadly similar........

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