We rely so heavily on technology now. I own just a handful of relics of cds, don’t play the radio, yet I every single day there is music playing in my house or car from spotify. It used to be so novel being able to ask for any song that came to mind. I grew up in the 80s where I remember 8-tracks in the old Broncos, I remember cassette tapes and timing a boom box just right to record songs as they played on the radio, I remember CDs and having to be so careful with them. I remember physically owning music, and because of that I was limited to either a lot of creativity (see mix tape example from the radio to the cassette) or limited by the amount of money I had, which I was a kid and had hardly any money ever. Then came Napster, and I loved it. How incredible to finally be able to listen to so much music on demand. I used Pandora and then have settled in with Spotify after some fits and starts. I was very resistant to having to pay for a subscription but eventually just caved. So years into it, I seem to hear the same songs over and over. I intentionally try to seek out new music, but it seems to push me back to the same songs I have known and loved.
The algorithm is forcing me to have a limited mindset rather than a growth mindset. The growth mindset to me is about exploring and curiosity and adapatability. The limited mindset about doing the same old status quo without flexibility.
The algorithm, AI, learns what I like and it gives me more of that. However, I am a changing, curious, expansive person, and it limits what I then gain exposure to. It’s the same with Spotify narrowing down my music choices so now even obscure songs I know all the words to because I hear them so often. Google does this as well which is why I don’t have options of other “shops” when I’m looking for clothes, I get the same same same and it is so boring and frustrating honestly. Youtube does the same where it gives more more of the same videos.
It’s like AI and the algorithm are curating my life for me based on who I was not who I am becoming and who I will be in the future. For me it’s like staying in my tiny hometown, I would only get that exposure if I didn’t spread my wings and take in new information, new ideas, new music, new surroundings, new people. I feel like it limits my freedom in a way. It’s also highly useful obviously but when I want to expand I need it to take off the guards and allow me to zig, zag, and traverse across all sorts of topics and interests.
Using ChatGPT lately I’ve noticed the same thing. Sometimes I need a pep talk and I have used it as a cheerleader for me. Sometimes I need to have a sympthetic ear, and I use it for that too. Sometimes I need it to help me bounce ideas off for business options. Sometimes I need it to explain ideas to me simply. Sometimes I need it as a study buddy to test me on things. I use it for a range of things. However, lately it’s defaulted to this overly saccarine fluffy response style and I’ve had to correct it again and again to stop. Then I play Spotify and I hear the same songs I always hear and it’s all so boring, so bland now because it’s become commonplace, it’s lost the allure, the emotional resonance.
I don’t want to just be a consumer told what to think, what to do, what to buy. I must have free will and expansiveness, and freedom of choice of my inputs.