About the Book
Algorithmic Saga: Understanding Media, Culture, and Transformation in the AI Age
We're no longer just living with technology-we're living through it. Driverless cars ferry passengers, drones deliver packages, robots serve guests in hotels, and even our most intimate choices-like finding a life partner-are now influenced by artificial intelligence. Welcome to the Algorithmic Saga-a world where media, machines, and algorithms don't just reflect our lives, they rewrite them.
In this timely and eye-opening book, Dr. Muhammad Atique explores how technology has shifted from being a backdrop to becoming the architect of our values, choices, and realities.
Inside these pages, you'll discover:
The hidden grip of algorithms-how they shape the news you consume, the relationships you form, and the choices you make.
Digital culture in action-from meme evolution and digital art to podcasts, gaming, and the fusion of technology with fashion.
Psychological traps of the digital age-FOMO, echo chambers, information overload, and "delusionships" that challenge our intimacy.
Practical strategies for balance-including digital fasting, detox, and mindful engagement to reclaim control in a distracted world.
The future of AI-from the rise of agentic AI to the looming possibility of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and projects like AI-2027 that could reshape humanity itself.
Organized into three sections-Digital Media, Digital Cultures, and Digital Transformation-Algorithmic Saga takes you on a journey through the forces shaping our present and our future. Along the way, Dr. Atique unpacks how governments, healthcare systems, and industries are being redefined by AI, raising urgent questions about ethics, power, and human autonomy.
More than critique, this book is a guide for thriving in the AI age-helping readers cultivate awareness, responsibility, and intentionality in a world where technology defines who we are and what we become.
If you've ever wondered how algorithms influence your daily life, how digital culture reshapes society, or what future AI holds for humanity, Algorithmic Saga is your essential roadmap.
Timely, insightful, and accessible-this book is for anyone who wants to navigate the algorithmic age with clarity, balance, and purpose.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Preface. I
Acknowledgments. III
Introduction. V
Section I: Understanding Digital Media. 1
Chapter One Understanding the Profound Influence of Digital Media. 3
Chapter Two How Algorithms Shape Our News. 15
Chapter Three Social Media Influencers and Digital Narratives. 27
Chapter Four The Harmful Effects of Social Media. 37
Chapter Five Navigating Information Overload with Digital Literacy. 46
Chapter Six Bringing Social Change Through Digital Activism.. 53
Chapter Seven How You Can Use Social Media to Make a Difference. 65
Chapter Eight Balancing Screen Time for Better Health and Well-Being. 76
Section II: Understanding Digital Cultures. 90
Chapter Nine Revisiting Memories in the Digital Era. 92
Chapter Ten Navigating Relationships in the Digital Age. 100
Chapter Eleven The Evolution of Memes. 109
Chapter Twelve The Fusion of Technology and Fashion. 120
Chapter Thirteen The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Tailored Content Selection. 132
Chapter Fourteen The Impact of Podcasts on Culture. 142
Chapter Fifteen The Influence of Digital Art on Traditional Art Forms. 152
Chapter Sixteen World of Digital Commerce: Digital Economy Defined. 162
Chapter Seventeen The Expanding World of Online Gaming. 176
Chapter Eighteen Telling Stories Digitally. 186
Section III: Understanding Digital Transformation. 197
Chapter Nineteen The Wired American. 199
Chapter Twenty The Pitfalls and Challenges of Digital Transformation in the United States Government. 208
Chapter Twenty-One Digital Transformation Revolutionizing US Healthcare: A Prescription for Change. 217
Chapter Twenty-Two The Power and Peril of Artificial Intelligence. 228
Chapter Twenty-Three AI and Ethics: Navigating the Moral Landscape of Artificial Intelligence. 246
Chapter Twenty-Four A Review of Digital Transformations Across Industry Sectors. 266
Afterwords. 275
About the Author. 276
Complete Guide to AI Tools & Technologies. 277
Book Review Request! 281
Bibliography. 282
About the Author :
Dr. Muhammad Atique holds a PhD in Public Administration with a specialization in Digital Governance and has over fifteen years of combined experience in academia and media. He has published several peer-reviewed research articles on digital media, technology adoption, and governance. His teaching and research explore the intersection of technology, media culture, and societal transformation in the AI age.
Review :
Book Endorsements"Dr. Muhammad Atique offers an engaging and insightful book for those interested in better understanding how to navigate the increasingly complex digital environment driven by algorithms and artificial intelligence. This book can be easily adopted for classes examining the current digital media and information landscape as it provides excellent Takeaway Messages and Discussion Questions to guide classroom engagement at the end of each chapter."
-Michael LaMagna, Ed.D.Information Literacy Program & Library Services Coordinator Professor of Library Services Delaware County Community College Podcast Host on the New Books Network
"A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the cultural consequences of AI beyond the hype. In this timely and important work, the author offers an expert and incisive exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping our cultural and media landscapes. This book does not just chart the rise of algorithmic systems-it interrogates their power, exposes their biases, and challenges us to rethink the social contracts behind our digital lives."
-Azmat RasulProfessor College of Communication and Media Sciences Zayed University, UAE.
"The AI-driven changes in media and culture are catalysts for a broader societal transformation. Algorithmic Saga will serve as a vital and timely examination of how algorithmic systems are restructuring culture and society."
- Laeeq Khan, PhD Associate Professor
Director, Social Media & Analytics Research Team (SMART) Lab Editor-in-Chief, Oxford Intersections on Social Media School of Media Arts & Studies Scripps College of Communication, Ohio University 327 Schoonover Center, 20 W. Union Street, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA
"This book is a helpful guide to understanding how digital media affects our daily lives. It thoroughly explains how our newsfeeds, social interactions, and even our sense of community are biased. The language of the book is very accessible and easy, making it a legible read for all age groups. Anyone who wants to better understand of media in our digital age will find this book helpful."
- Mansa Narain, MA (UT Austin, NYU) Media Scholar, and Filmmaker
