[Podcast] The Upside and Downside of Recommendation Engines

By: Kevin Craine on March 2nd, 2021

[Podcast] The Upside and Downside of Recommendation Engines

Have you ever wondered how companies like Amazon and Netflix recommend content based on our past viewing or purchasing? Recommendation engines are fueled by techniques in Machine Learning and AI. There are many benefits to consumers and companies, but what are the dangers and downsides of recommendation engines? That is the subject of my newest AIIM On Air interview with Michael Schrage.

Michael is from the MIT Sloan School of Management's Initiative on the Digital Economy and a sought-after expert on innovation, design, and network effects. His books, including Serious Play: How the World's Best Companies Simulate to Innovate, and The Innovator's Hypothesis, are all part of the critically acclaimed MIT Press Essential Knowledge series.

Increasingly, our technologies are giving us better, faster, smarter, and more personal purchasing advice. Amazon already knows what kind of books and household goods you like and is more than eager to recommend more; YouTube and TikTok always have another video lined up to show you; Netflix has crunched the numbers of your viewing habits to suggest whole genres that you would enjoy.

In this interview, Michael explains the origins, technologies, business applications, and increasing societal impact of recommendation engines. He starts by reviewing a history of recommendation that reaches back to antiquity's oracles and astrologers. Then we explore the commercial evolution of recommendation engines, how these systems work, and the impact of machine learning and deep learning algorithms.

Check out the complete interview here and the systems that allow companies worldwide to know what products, services, and experiences "you might also like."

About Kevin Craine

Kevin Craine is a professional writer, an internationally respected technology analyst, and an award-winning podcast producer. He was named the #1 Enterprise Content Management Influencer to follow on Twitter and has listeners and readers worldwide. Kevin creates strategic content for the web, marketing, social media, and more. He is the written voice for some of North America's leading brands and his interviews feature today's best thought leaders. His client list includes many well-known global leaders like IBM, Microsoft and Intel, along with a long list of individuals and start-ups from a wide variety of industries. Kevin's podcasts have been heard around the world, including the award-winning weekly business show "Everyday MBA". He is also the host and producer of "Bizcast" on C-Suite Radio and the producer behind podcasts for Epson, Canon, IBM and AIIM International, among others. Prior to starting Craine Communications Group, Kevin was Director of Document Services for Regence BlueCross BlueShield where he managed high volume document processing operations in Seattle, Portland and Salt Lake City. He also spent time at IKON as an Enterprise Content Management consultant working with national and major accounts. He was the founding editor of Document Strategy magazine. Kevin has also been, at one point or another, an adjunct university professor, a black belt martial artist, and a professional guitarist. Kevin holds an MBA in the Management of Science and Technology as well as a BA in Communications and Marketing.