The Growing Importance of the Algorithm
In his absolutely fantastic 2006 Princeton University essay The Algorithm: Idiom of Modern Science, Bernard Chazelle pondered the Holy Grail quest of computer science:
“How to unleash the full computing and modeling power of the Algorithm.”
Chazelle describes how Moore’s Law, which states that computing power doubles every two years, has delayed the rise to prominence of the algorithm, in much the same way that an abundance of relatively cheap oil has delayed the emergence of alternative energy sources.
The Triumph of Mathematics
“To make sense of the world, we have math,” explains Chazelle, and therefore, some might ask: Who needs algorithms?
“It is beyond dispute,” continues Chazelle, “that the dizzying success of 20th century science is, to a large degree, the triumph of mathematics. A page’s worth of math formulas is enough to explain most of the physical phenomena around us: why things fly, fall, float, gravitate, radiate, blow up, etc.”
As Albert Einstein said:
“The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.”
“Granted,” says Chazelle, “Einstein’s assurance that something is comprehensible might not necessarily reassure everyone, but all would agree that the universe speaks in one tongue and one tongue only: mathematics.”
The New Language of Science
“The Algorithm’s coming-of-age as the new language of science,” declares Chazelle, “promises to be the most disruptive scientific development since quantum mechanics.”
Algorithms are thought by some to be simply a way to automate the rapid execution of a task. Although speed is important and the exponential growth of computing power has allowed algorithms to execute faster, it is the quality of the work performed by the algorithm that is vastly more important, especially algorithms used for complex data analysis in support of critical business decisions.
“The algorithmic paradigm,” explains Chazelle, “is not about what but how to think. Self-reference is associated mostly with self-replication. In the algorithmic world, by contrast, it is the engine powering the complex recursive designs that give abstraction its amazing richness: it is, in fact, the very essence of computing. Should even a fraction of that power be harnessed for modeling purposes, there’s no telling what might happen.”
For example, using graph theory (a branch of theoretical mathematics), algorithms can construct mathematical models for the ways that humans recognize patterns in data. The goal of these algorithms is not to replace human decision makers.
These algorithmically constructed models can be used to automate the rapid execution of analytical tasks providing true decision support for humans to use while navigating today’s challenging business environment, which faces daunting data volumes and a constantly evolving marketplace.
“Some say the Algorithm is poised to become the new New Math, the idiom of modern science,” explains Chazelle. “I say The Sciences They Are A-Changin’ and the Algorithm is Here to Stay. One thing is certain, Moore’s Law has put computing on the map: the Algorithm will now unleash its true potential.”
I completely agree and wholeheartedly echo the closing remark of Chazelle’s essay:
“May the Algorithm’s Force be with you.”
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The Growing Importance of Mathematics
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