We live in a world of algorithms. That is, whatever we watch, listen to or read online these days is tracked, pooled, analyzed and recorded. Not that this is something to be in dread of, for in many ways, people have tried to do this very thing forever. Julius Caesar tried to get a census of the world back in the day-- that is an example of a society trying to figure out just what it is and what makes up that society. No doubt some Neanderthal surveyed which mastodon bones were gnawed the most in a cave to figure which part of the mastodon was the best to eat. It really is nothing new.
Most people have in their homes a voice activated device known as either Alexa or Siri. That device does a lot of good things, such as keeping a list of the groceries you may need or playing an old television show or researching a recipe. It also collects data and sends it along to another computer that processes that data. Whatever is trending on that data is also noted. Type something mundane into your search engine on your computer, say--automobile floor mats and bring up a page or two, you will no doubt be surprised to find the next time you are on your computer, there are ads galore for floor mats.
One can either act like Big Brother is watching you or one can have a little fun at Big Brother’s expense.
If you do have such a device, do me a favor. When you go out of your house for a period of time, ask it to “play songs by Martin McCormack.” Alexa or Siri will then play dutifully every song that they have written and recorded by me. You don’t even have to be present--just let it play and drive your cat crazy.
The result is that you will create a change in the algorithms. All of the sudden, my music will start being noted by that computer. “Something is afoot--people playing Martin McCormack,” will be sent along to the other computer that will note “people must like Martin McCormack, run something about Martin McCormack.” Now, there will be something that will pop up on other people’s music selections, like “people who listen to this song, listen to Martin McCormack.”
You now have influenced an algorithm, and your act of defiance has put into motion something that big companies pay to do.
Every time you leave your home, ask Alexa to do the same thing over and over. Now you are reinforcing that algorithm. Computers will note “this is no fluke.” And all of the sudden, you might notice an AI generated article about The Mr. Marty Show or “art by Martin McCormack.”
Once again, you have done something that is giving it to the man, er, computer and in the process, you are doing me a big favor.
So try the experiment and let me know if you notice any chance--either with Alexa or your laptop. And you’ll be glad to know, you can truly change the world one song at a time.
READ MARTIN'S OTHER BLOG HERE.