Boxer shorts or briefs? Don't worry, AI already knows.
A new trend is making people realize just how much data tech companies possess about them, and how that data is being used.
Amazon's “About You” feature – a summary generated by AI that outlines your shopping preferences – has recently spread widely on the internet. The details provided by Amazon are surprisingly specific, ranging from “flat buttocks” to “reading Kindle books on the phone while in the shower.”
(Here is a step-by-step guide on how to find your "About You" function.)
Ben Shimkus asked around in the editorial department of BI to see how Amazon viewed his colleagues.
Amazon's assessment of me is not really surprising (nor particularly amusing), with one exception: “Engaged in physical labor or construction work.” That’s right, it’s referring to me, working a regular shift in this established news agency factory.
It shouldn't be surprising that companies build profiles around us. But the extent to which they are willing to go might truly be surprising.
Recently, a reporter from Wired requested a copy of their customer data from McDonald's loyalty program and received a 515-page document. Moreover, these customers are not necessarily what one would consider frequent visitors. McDonald's predicts that this individual will make 2.16 visits within six weeks.
If we include other companies you are in contact with as well, then McDonald's scale of data collection is nothing compared to that.
AI Giants are using their agents to embed more deeply into users' personal lives. In the past, companies had to collect customer information with great effort, but now people are voluntarily handing over the keys to their data fortresses.
From emails, calendars, and text messages to bank accounts, all of these have become available data. For those who no longer want to bother thinking about when to restock tissues, it's worth it to do so.
But even if you are willing to ignore concerns about security or privacy, there are still reasons to at least pause for a moment and think about it.
AI is under pressure to generate revenue from the tools it has invested billions of dollars in developing. A subscription model is the most straightforward approach, but this may exclude a considerable number of users who are unwilling to pay.
Leveraging the vast amount of customer data they have already collected is another approach. Suddenly, it's no longer just placing orders on your behalf in advance; it's also guiding you towards certain brands.
