The Danger of Machine Drift and Protecting The Human Experience

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Machine drift refers to the gradual surrender of our own decision-making ability to algorithms and artificial intelligence. Research has shown that we often trust personalized recommendations from algorithms more than our own instincts, leading to a reliance on machines to make decisions for us. This surrendering of choice compromises the human experience. For example, the ability to discover new music and develop a personal connection to it used to come from various sources like music blogs, friends, and illegal downloading. However, with the rise of platforms like Spotify, the process has become more algorithmic. While these platforms provide suggestions, it is still perceived as a choice. By resisting machine drift, we can protect our own human experience and maintain the intentionality behind our decisions.

“It’s different because it’s Google.” Bard, Google’s answer to ChatGPT, could prove to be more consequential than any large language model to date — but it isn’t there yet.

Then, we hear from listeners on how they are using A.I. to negotiate their rent, understand medical results and affirm their gender identity.

Plus: Why Spotify’s A.I. D.J. may be a tipping point for artificial intelligence taking control of our lives.

You can sign up for On Tech: A.I. at nytimes.com/newsletters.

Additional reading:

Google released a new chatbot, Bard. Here’s what it does well — and not so well.
After a conversation with Google’s executives, Casey Newton answers six questions about the large language model.
Interior AI is a design tool that makes interior design mock-ups using artificial intelligence.
Spotify unveiled a new A.I.-powered D.J.
In his book “Futureproof,” Kevin Roose outlines the concept of “machine drift” — the concept that people will gradually turn over more of their life to the decisions of algorithms.