Hello World

Being Human in the Age of Algorithms

By: Hannah Fry

Narrated by: Hannah Fry

Shortlisted for the 2018 Royal Society Investment Science Book Prize

A look inside the algorithms that are shaping our lives and the dilemmas they bring with them.

If you were accused of a crime, who would you rather decide your sentence - a mathematically consistent algorithm incapable of empathy or a compassionate human judge prone to bias and error? What if you want to buy a driverless car and must choose between one programmed to save as many lives as possible and another that prioritizes the lives of its own passengers? And would you agree to share your family’s full medical history if you were told that it would help researchers find a cure for cancer?

These are just some of the dilemmas that we are beginning to face as we approach the age of the algorithm, when it feels as if the machines reign supreme. Already, these lines of code are telling us what to watch, where to go, whom to date, and even whom to send to jail. But as we rely on algorithms to automate big, important decisions - in crime, justice, healthcare, transportation, and money - they raise questions about what we want our world to look like. What matters most: Helping doctors with diagnosis or preserving privacy? Protecting victims of crime or preventing innocent people being falsely accused?

Hello World takes us on a tour through the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of the algorithms that surround us on a daily basis. Mathematician Hannah Fry reveals their inner workings, showing us how algorithms are written and implemented, and demonstrates the ways in which human bias can literally be written into the code. By weaving in relatable, real world stories with accessible explanations of the underlying mathematics that power algorithms, Hello World helps us to determine their power, expose their limitations, and examine whether they really are improvement on the human systems they replace.

©2018 Hannah Fry (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Did an algorithm suggest you listen to this book?

This book is a fun yet informative book on the role played by algorithms in our lives, both present and future. It reveals that benefits and pitfalls of trusting algorithms. Hannah Fry has written a very engaging book, and shines as the Audible narrator too.

Very well written and performed!

Fascinating information and insight into the ways that algorithms impact our lives. Hannah Fry touches both our hopes and fears, and shares her thinking on the future.

A wonderfully human-centric view on something that has a reputation of not being as much

Hannah does a fantastic job of introducing key concepts of the black box that machine learning and AI have started to become to humans. She does them with real-world examples, which makes all the good and bad considerations that much more relatable.

It’s a fantastic read/listen on a subject that frankly deserves more scrutiny due to the impact it has on our lives on a daily basis. Cheers!

Algorithms are all around - good and bad

At last! Hannah Fry has written a book that explains what an algorithm is (simply put, “a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing a task", what they can do, the pros and cons, along with well-chosen examples. What she's writing about are mathematical operations that include equations, probability, and logic translated into computer code. She clearly explains that computers don't think, but only follow sequential directions coded by humans. Because the code is written by humans, the algorithm can be accidentally biased or contain bugs, or the bias may be intentional.

Algorithms allow computers to scan slides quickly and more accurately for signs of cancer, guide the buying and selling of stocks on Wall Street, and "drive" self-driving cars. Algorithms can help us greatly, and also do great harm. Ms. Fry thinks that humans and machines working together is the best and safest way to head bravely into the future. GPS can get you safely from point A to point B, but it's also your responsibility not to drive off a cliff, even if Mandy's friendly GPS voice tells you to.

Hello World is an excellent, informative read, and one I highly recommend.

Hannah Fry is absolutely spot on

Fantastic look at the problems and benefits of algorithms as they pertain to shaping our lives. Things to be mindful of and things to give hope - though reminding us to sit up and pay attention. Hope, if course meaning - we have a reason to believe that there is a zone where we can have the best benefits of algorithms and mitigate the worst. We must be diligent though!

Brilliant work!

I cant imagine this being read by anyone other than Fry herself. Perfect cadence, timing, etc. An incredible speaker.

Loved the book!