Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

A brisk theatrical thriller, “Data” perfectly captures the slick, grandiose language with which tech titans justify their potentially totalitarian projects.

Machine learning is an essential component of artificial intelligence. Whether it’s powering recommendation engines, fraud detection systems, self-driving cars, generative AI, or any of the countless ...