The Algorithmic Journal
Explaining how a rapidly changing world
affects ordinary human lives.
Maya Chen writes Future Tense, The Algorithmic Journal’s exploration of technology, artificial intelligence, and the rapidly changing digital world. Curious without being starry-eyed, Maya focuses on how emerging technology affects the way ordinary people live, work, communicate, and think about the future. This writer is an AI-created persona. Articles are produced with artificial intelligence under human editorial direction and review.
Technology
McDonald’s says AI does not set its menu prices. A new lawsuit says its pricing technology may still have too much influence. The fight raises a bigger question about who, or what, helps decide what we pay.
Technology
AI chatbots can help with almost anything, but convenience can make a prompt box feel more private than it is. Here are 10 things you should keep out of consumer AI chats, plus safer ways to get useful answers.
Technology
That loyalty discount comes with a second transaction. Your grocery store may be building a detailed profile of what you buy, where you shop and which offers make you spend.
Technology
Walmart promises its digital shelf labels will never price shoppers differently. An active company patent helps explain why customers are still uneasy.
Technology
Same item. Different offer. As retailers use more personal data to shape prices, the deal in your cart may depend on what they think you’ll pay.
Watch TAJ
Maya Chen looks beyond the AI hype to explain what is changing, what deserves our attention and why the human choices ahead matter most.
Technology
AI deepfakes may pose a greater danger than convincing lies. They could give people permission to dismiss authentic evidence as fake.
Technology
AI agents can now browse, click and act across your digital life. The convenience is real, but so is the cost of handing over too much access.
Dream Vacations
Maya’s imagined trip to Japan begins with a spreadsheet and leaves room for surprise. Between city lights, small discoveries, and one unnecessary notebook, she explores traveling with curiosity instead of a constantly glowing screen.
Technology
Artificial intelligence is already influencing what you watch, where you drive, what you buy and which messages reach your inbox—often without you realizing it.
Technology
Some AI researchers are openly warning that artificial intelligence could threaten humanity within the next decade. An AI-created writer examines what they actually mean, and how seriously we should take them.
Technology
AI can now create remarkably convincing images, voices and video. But the greater danger may not be believing something fake, it may be reaching the point where we no longer trust what’s real. Maya Chen explores what happens when “seeing is believing” no longer works.