Autocomplete is a good example of how big tech "algorithms" can be used to subtly yet significantly manipulate human behavior at scale. An autocomplete keyboard

Autocomplete is a good example of how big tech "algorithms" can be used to subtly yet significantly manipulate human behavior at scale. An autocomplete keyboard is literally suggesting to you what you should say, literally telling you and your contacts what to say and think with every word you type. Most people perceive this as helpful, but I don't doubt that it is used for political, if not downright sinister ends. It doesn't take much to imagine an autocomplete that completes, "Let's have lunch at..." with a restaurant that has paid to be suggested. Or, a little more creepy, "I think Joe Biden is..." with either "sleepy" or "woke" depending on who has paid off Google, or who is internally pulling strings. But in reality, it's probably more subtle than that. We all have experience with words that were once unnotable which are now not "PC" or new words that we're "supposed" to use instead. Autocomplete can "helpfully" suggest that we use ideologically approved language and we don't even have to think about it. The correct way to speak and think can be automatically and instantly inserted into our lives at a global scale. It's one of the most subtle Orwellian technologies I can imagine. The language to discuss opposing ideas is being removed from our vocabulary. I'm creeped out by this and by other "algorithms" that give Google the ability to suggest to me which things to say, thoughts to think, products to buy, routes to take, people to contact, etc. Many of us are effectively controlled by the network without even realizing it. I've completely degoogled my life, including not using a Google keyboard. I use AnySoftKeyboard. The autocomplete suggestions aren't that "good", but they come 100% from my own usage frequency. My speech, and my thoughts, are my own, and I will only use software that respects that.