In an op-ed for The New York Times, Wirecutter Staff Writer Thorin Klosowski writes recommendation algorithms — used to collect and compare data to make suggestions on items like music or movies — have not lived up to expectations. The trade-off for user data is exposure to new material, but Klosowski writes, “Our tastes are rarely simple enough for an algorithm to make sense of.” It’s less about whether a service recommends the best book to read and more about where the data goes. “This trade-off is easier to stomach when there’s a benefit, but if you don’t enjoy the curation, it’s just free data for companies to exploit.” (Registration may be required to access this article.)
Full Story