A riveting and revealing exploration of the world created by computer algorithms and its impact on individuals, from the workers across the globe who feed artificial intelligence systems with data to the impact of algorithms on our own behaviour, as consumers and citizens.

Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2024

AI is changing what it means to be human. This is the unrivalled investigation into the impact of AI on how we live now.

'The intimate investigation of AI that we’ve been waiting for, and it arrives not a moment too soon.' – Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

Through the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from Silicon Valley, Code Dependent explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society. Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor at the FT, exposes how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency – and shatter our illusion of free will.

AI is already changing what it means to be human, in ways large and small. In this compelling work, Murgia reveals what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity.

'A nuanced, thoughtful and very accessible picture of a world deeply affected by AI' – Martha Lane Fox

'Highly readable and deeply important' – The Guardian

'Code Dependent is the No Logo of the 2020s' – The Times

"Code Dependent is the No Logo of the 2020s." - The Times

"A penetrating look at how we’re allowing artificial intelligence to infiltrate all parts of society, from policing, welfare, justice and health, to the point where whole lives are being altered – often ruined – by systems that hardly any of us understand" - The Daily Telegraph

"The power of this book lies in the rich stories it tells of individuals . . . Drawing on interviews from around the globe, this highly readable and deeply important book exposes AI’s sordid underbelly." - The Guardian

"Given the topic's ubiquity, it is refreshing when a new perspective comes along. And Code Dependent is just that, making it a must-read for those struggling to reckon with the AI revolution." - New Scientist

"Every chapter in Code Dependent shocks . . . Simultaneously a thoughtful introduction and a deep dive for anyone who already knows quite a lot about AI, or thinks they do" - The Irish Times