Nick Seaver

We are joined by Nick Sever – author of the new book Computing Taste: Algorithms and the Makers of Music Recommendation – to discuss his excellent ethnographic research on the creation of algorithmic recommendation systems. Nick spent a long time getting to really know the people who make these systems and his book offers so much original, granular detail about the various practices, theories, and relationships that influence the engineers behind these algorithms. Nick’s book also contains extremely interesting and surprising applications of classic anthropological theory to contemporary algorithmic technology. ••• Nick’s book – Computing Taste: Algorithms and the Makers of Music Recommendation https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo183892298.html ••• Nick’s twitter – https://twitter.com/npseaver Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (www.twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (www.twitter.com/braunestahl)

In this engaging discussion, Professor Nick Seaver, an expert in anthropology and technology, joins Veronica Barassi, who delves into algorithms from an anthropological viewpoint, and Alex Moltzau, who bridges research and practical implications. They explore how anthropological insights can illuminate the complexities of algorithms, the societal impacts of datafication on family life, and the ethical challenges surrounding social justice. Together, they advocate for an integrative approach to understanding technology's influence on culture and human experience.

Nick Seaver, assistant professor of anthropology at Tufts University, dives into the world of algorithmic music recommendation systems. He reveals how human biases shape these algorithms, impacting what we listen to on platforms like Spotify and Pandora. Seaver explores the history of collaborative filtering and its cultural significance while discussing the opaque 'black box' nature of these tech-driven systems. He emphasizes understanding the human elements in technology, highlighting the often-overlooked role of musicians in this digital ecosystem.