Less than a generation ago, mathematicians and technologists were the only serious users of the word algorithm. Today, algorithms are part of everyday conversation in many fields including engineering, science, commerce, literature, art, and music. They are even the subject of a political jibe: "What did Bill Clinton play on his sax? Al Gore rhythms."
Algorithms not only describe and control what computers do, they have become a way of thinking. The algorithmic interpretation sees worldly phenomena as manifestations of information and seeks algorithmic solutions for problems. But there are limitations. Despite their awesome power, computing machines cannot do many things that humans can do such as recognize faces, label images, or create new interpretations. Those who have devoted many years trying to make computers behave like brains have succeeded mainly in cultivating brains that think like computers!
What’s behind the transformation of computation from the work of esoteric electronics to the thought of everyday persons?