Embracing serendipity and breaking free of algorithmic shackles
Mar 5, 2023
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Clive Thompson, creator of the Weird Old Book Finder search tool, discusses the importance of embracing serendipity and breaking free from algorithmic control. Topics include the rise and fall of Google Glass, the limitations of algorithm-driven profiles, and the risks of super fast finance.
Google Glass serves as a cautionary tale for the tech industry, highlighting the importance of understanding customer demands and avoiding arrogance.
By embracing serendipity and exploring unusual sources, individuals can foster a more inquisitive and diverse online experience.
Deep dives
The cautionary tale of Google Glass
Google Glass, the once-hyped internet-connected spectacle, serves as a cautionary tale for the tech industry's pursuit of innovation regardless of people's wants or needs. The product, priced at $1,500 and intended to replace phones, failed to live up to expectations due to limited functionality, privacy concerns, and a lack of clear utility. The marketing narrative clashed with the reality of the product, ultimately reinforcing the importance of understanding customer demands and avoiding arrogance.
Rewilding attention to combat algorithmic control
Clive Thompson presents the concept of rewilding attention, advocating for intentional and diverse content consumption. He highlights the problem of algorithmic curation leading to a monotonous and narrow selection of content on social media platforms. Thompson introduces the Weird Old Book Finder, a search tool he developed to rediscover the variety and curiosity that the internet promised. By embracing serendipity and exploring unusual sources, individuals can foster a more inquisitive and diverse online experience.
The dangers of ultra-fast finance and high-frequency trading
Brian Klass delves into the risks posed by the speed race in financial markets, particularly high-frequency trading. He highlights the astonishing expenditures made by traders to gain minuscule time advantages and the potential for manipulation. Klass questions whether this hyper-speed environment is a desirable foundation for financial systems, given the lack of understanding, control, and the potential for crashes caused by micro-second disruptions. He cautions against over-optimization and advocates for building systems that prioritize stability, reflection, and long-term resilience.
Clive Thompson has invented a new search tool called the Weird Old Book Finder. It's about… finding weird old books, what else? It's also about embracing serendipity and breaking free of algorithmic shackles. Also, why the development of Google Glass was both a cautionary tale and a punchline; and the vulnerabilities of super fast finance.
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