Algorithms are already our bosses

@talraviv
talraviv.org
algorithms are
*already*
our bosses

@talraviv
talraviv.org
I work at Patreon
so i get to meet a lot of online
creators.

@talraviv
talraviv.org
online creators are
fascinating people
they are basically living in the future

@talraviv
talraviv.org
online creators
have audiences
I love asking creators how their
fans discovered them
Every story is delightful and unique

@talraviv
talraviv.org
with one major similarity

@talraviv
talraviv.org
Theres always a
discovery platform
involved
Youtube
M
edium
Twitch
Spotify
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Soundcloud
napchatterestdin

@talraviv
talraviv.org
The discovery platform
is the destination
person
arrives at
platform
& told what
to consume

@talraviv
talraviv.org
In the middle is a
recommendation algorithm

@talraviv
talraviv.org
The algorithm does
whatever it wants

@talraviv
talraviv.org
What does the
algorithm want
•What drives the business? Ad revenue

@talraviv
talraviv.org
What does the
algorithm want
•What drives ad revenue? People
looking at stuff

@talraviv
talraviv.org
What does the
algorithm want
•What drives ad revenue? People
looking at stuff
•What gets people to look at stuff?
Content that makes people look at
stuff for a long time, or makes people
come back often, or both

@talraviv
talraviv.org
What the algorithm
doesnt really care about
•Who clicked “subscribe” to you

@talraviv
talraviv.org
What the algorithm
•Whether a fan wants to see your
content today

@talraviv
talraviv.org
What the algorithm
•Whether a fan wants to see your
content today
•Ideas that are good and important
but may not be popular

@talraviv
talraviv.org
You dont have to understand
tech or robot psychology

@talraviv
talraviv.org
You just have to
understand the incentives

@talraviv
talraviv.org
This brings me back to
online creators

@talraviv
talraviv.org
Creators are
independent
entrepreneurial
expressive
free
right?

@talraviv
talraviv.org
but they all have a boss
that boss is an algorithm

@talraviv
talraviv.org
think about it

@talraviv
talraviv.org
they have a boss

@talraviv
talraviv.org
and here’s the thing:

@talraviv
talraviv.org
it’s not a good boss.

@talraviv
talraviv.org
would you want to work
for someone who

@talraviv
talraviv.org
holds unclear expectations of you
that change over time
(and you have to figure them out
from rumors or coworkers)
https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/30/16222850/youtube-google-
brain-algorithm-video-recommendation-personalized-feed

@talraviv
talraviv.org
compensates you
inconsistently, on factors
outside your control
https://inﬂuencermarketinghub.com/4-factors-
aﬀect-youtube-earnings-potential/

@talraviv
talraviv.org
promotes people unrelated
to their contribution
“How the Youtube algorithm created Logan Paul” Jarvis Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GYXemlyd_Q

@talraviv
talraviv.org
fires people
without feedback
https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2017/09/18/
adpocalypse-2017-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-
youtubes-demonetization-troubles/

@talraviv
talraviv.org
expects you to work
while on vacation or sick
https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/page/lesson/trendsetter#strategies-zippy-link-1
http://techtipswithtea.com/youtube-tips/consistency-really-matter-youtube/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVJ6Gp6L6rA

@talraviv
talraviv.org
burned out
your co-workers
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/08/
youtube-stars-burnout-fun-bleak-stressed

@talraviv
talraviv.org
holds power by being deeply embedded in
the business and institutional knowledge
and so can never get fired because it’s not
worth it and no one has the courage or
will to do it

@talraviv
talraviv.org
if i was thinking
about a job

@talraviv
talraviv.org
and this was what i heard

@talraviv
talraviv.org
I would say nah

@talraviv
talraviv.org
the algorithm
is a boss

@talraviv
talraviv.org
the algorithm
is a toxic boss

@talraviv
talraviv.org
let that sink in

@talraviv
talraviv.org
thats one reason why i think creators live
in the future
they are the canaries in the coal mines

@talraviv
talraviv.org
and its more than content creators
many more of us work for algorithms

@talraviv
talraviv.org
uber and lyft drivers

@talraviv
talraviv.org
etsy makers

@talraviv
talraviv.org
etsy makers
amazon sellers

@talraviv
talraviv.org
etsy makers
amazon sellers
thumbtack professionals

@talraviv
talraviv.org
etsy makers
amazon sellers
airbnb hosts

@talraviv
talraviv.org
etsy makers
amazon sellers
airbnb hosts
all work for algorithms

@talraviv
talraviv.org
we keep talking about future AI
overlords

@talraviv
talraviv.org
we keep talking about future AI
overlords
but we already hired them
to be our bosses

@talraviv
talraviv.org
so what do you do

@talraviv
talraviv.org
when you want to create

@talraviv
talraviv.org
and you have a toxic AI overlord boss

@talraviv
talraviv.org
be antifragile*
*a term and a book by Nasim Taleb. My favorite non-fiction book ever.
I keep it on my nightstand. I’m not joking

@talraviv
talraviv.org
how to be antifragile
enjoy the upside
•use the platforms to reach an
audience and get discovered

@talraviv
talraviv.org
enjoy the upside
•use the platforms to reach an
audience and get discovered
•that’s uh, the upside

@talraviv
talraviv.org
cap your downside
•the downside comes when you want to
reach your viewers but you can’t without
adulterating your content or following
orders from the algorithm

@talraviv
talraviv.org
cap your downside
•the downside comes when you want to
reach your viewers but you can’t without
adulterating your content or following
orders from the algorithm
•always make sure you can reach your
fans even at times when it doesn't benefit
the algorithm (more on this in a bit)

@talraviv
talraviv.org
use the platforms to get
discovered

@talraviv
talraviv.org
direct decentralized ways
to maintain contact

@talraviv
talraviv.org
collect emails
collect phone numbers
collect mailing address
host an online community
build your own app
whatever is most natural to your
audience

@talraviv
talraviv.org
so you don’t have to
fake things like this

@talraviv
talraviv.org
in order to achieve this

@talraviv
talraviv.org
(btw thanks to everyone who joined
through that post and didn’t unfriend me)

@talraviv
talraviv.org
in short disintermediate

@talraviv
talraviv.org
dont let
the algorithm
own you

@talraviv
talraviv.org
the end
well sort of

@talraviv
talraviv.org
guess what im gonna ask you for now

@talraviv
talraviv.org
if you enjoyed this

@talraviv
talraviv.org
which is obvious
because youre still clicking

@talraviv
talraviv.org
however you found this

@talraviv
talraviv.org
the most dependable way to hear about
the next one

@talraviv
talraviv.org
is to leave your email

@talraviv
talraviv.org
so i can spam you

@talraviv
talraviv.org
with lots of emails

@talraviv
talraviv.org
and clickbait subject lines

@talraviv
talraviv.org
that is my promise to you

@talraviv
talraviv.org
kidding

@talraviv
talraviv.org
talraviv.org

@talraviv
talraviv.org
otherwise

@talraviv
talraviv.org
this interaction will be like
a fleeting glance on the subway

@talraviv
talraviv.org
but theres no craigslist missed
connections for content

@talraviv
talraviv.org
oh wait theres google search

@talraviv
talraviv.org
thats an algorithm too though

Algorithms are already our bosses

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Semelhante a Algorithms are already our bosses

Semelhante a Algorithms are already our bosses (20)

Último

Último (20)

Algorithms are already our bosses