Books & Audiobooks
Another year lay stretched ahead of us. It promises to be an eventful 365 days, if nothing else. Technological advances, business initiatives, the ever-present role of AI, an American inauguration, and a slew of Canadian elections forthcoming. Where might we fit into the milieu? There’s no way to know for sure, but what we can be certain of is the fact that we will, no matter the occasion, be a data point for a number of companies. Our posts, playlists, responses to events, and so much more will become fodder for companies promising to make the world, and our days better.
There are a number of objects that we interact with that shape our lives via algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence. Life may be unfathomable without them, as with GPS, online banking, time management apps, and less practical entertainment counterparts: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crave, YouTube, and Spotify to name a few. The information through in-app advertisements, curated playlists, or content created “just for you” that might be recommended is based on our use of these things. It is more invisibly, and powerfully driven by artificial intelligence generated algorithms based on the bottom line of profit for the companies that own said apps and platforms. How then, can we make 2025 a year of digital literacy that keeps the balance of the Democracy of Things tipped in our informed favour? How can we be actively informed participants, rather than mystified observers?
There are a few books that make a great starting place to better understand this Democracy of Things. 2024 bore an embarrassment of literary riches on the topic, which make for excellent reading in 2025. From what I’ve read and understood, there are a few categories of reading that might appeal to the discerning digital consumer.
Platforms, algorithms, and AI no doubt make for a more convenient future, and the books listed below mark great entry points to better your digital literacy. Here’s to a forthcoming year where information is once more as accessible as possible.