The Every

The Every is a fictional technology company and its associated corporate campus featured in Dave Eggers' 2021 novel of the same name. It is presented as a merger between the fictional tech monopolies "The Circle" (from Eggers' 2013 novel The Circle) and an unnamed online retail and logistics giant, heavily implied to be Amazon.

The Every is depicted as the dominant force in global commerce, social media, and information aggregation. The company's central philosophy revolves around the belief that all aspects of human life should be transparent, measurable, and optimized for efficiency and social good – according to its own definition. This vision is pursued through a relentless stream of new products and services that aim to eliminate privacy, uncertainty, and inefficiency from daily life.

The company's culture is portrayed as cult-like, with employees ("EveryOne" or "Everies") highly encouraged to participate in mandatory social activities, internal ranking systems, and experimental new technologies. Dissent and critical thinking are subtly discouraged, and the lines between work and personal life are intentionally blurred.

Key themes associated with The Every include:

• Privacy vs. Transparency: The Every's belief in radical transparency clashes with concerns about individual privacy rights. The company argues that transparency is necessary for a more just and efficient society, while critics contend that it leads to surveillance and control.

• Technological Determinism: The novel explores the dangers of uncritically accepting technological solutions to complex social problems. The Every believes that technology can solve all of humanity's ills, but its methods often have unintended and negative consequences.

• Corporate Power and Monopoly: The Every represents the unchecked power of large technology corporations and their ability to influence public opinion, consumer behavior, and even government policy.

• The Erosion of Individuality: The company's emphasis on conformity and its algorithmic control over daily life contribute to a sense of diminished individuality and autonomy for its employees and users.

• The Illusion of Choice: While The Every offers a vast array of products and services, the underlying algorithms and data collection practices limit users' choices and reinforce the company's own agenda.

The Every serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement and the importance of safeguarding individual liberties in the face of corporate power.