With the widespread of the Internet of things (IoT) algorithms are increasingly managing our everyday life. From navigating our way in cities to keeping track of our health, artificial intelli- gence has been beneficial to us in many ways however, its algorithms can also be detrimental as a consequence of biased human programming. The consequence is that while technological pro- gr ess, delivers more and more human like artificial intelligence, humans become more and more dehumanised and therefore disempowered in their everyday interactions with artificial intelli- gence. The solution(s) is not single handed and calls for combined inte rventions at the macro and micro levels. Whilst reviewing recent top down developments on the front of AI ethics, this article delves into the question as to what extent ordinary citizens can exercise any kind of agency when it comes to artificial intellig ence. It does so through a multidimensional approach including analogies and intertextual motions between history, literature, and visual culture. Focussing in the case study of facial recognition software, the article explores the possibilities of imagina tive agency as a form of local intelligence capable of dwelling in and contesting [human made] algo- rithmic bias.