Reflection on Hyperlinked Communities
One topic this week that has been on my mind is human curation versus digital curation through algorithms. As someone who has been on social media since back in the Myspace days, I have seen a change in the way we view things online.
The current algorithm on Instagram focuses more on suggested posts and popular posts as opposed to the original version of the app that would show all the posts from accounts you follow in chronological order. While the new algorithm is great for people to get exposure to new accounts it also hurts smaller accounts by making it more difficult for their content to be seen.
I have been on Bookstagram (a community of Instagram accounts that focus on books) off and on for several years. I have seen so many shifts in the community and the way that we communicate. Through all of the changes, I stay on because I love talking about books with others and eventually meeting my online friends at book events has been a fun experience too. I have read so many amazing books that I never knew about because of the recommendations from my Bookstagram friends, and I have had people tell me that they read a book I posted about and loved it as well!
With the advances in AI, I’m sure people could ask ChatGPT for a list of book recommendations similar to a book they enjoyed and get a bunch of recommendations, but once they finish those books they can’t go back and have an engaging conversation with the AI about it. That’s where humans come in and where human interaction can’t be replaced.
One of my favorite parts of working in a middle school library was being able to give the students book recommendations and then getting to discuss the books with them after they read them. A few of my favorite students would spend their lunches in the library just to talk about books with me. Before my last day of work I compiled a list of over 100 books that I had read and rated 4-5/5 stars and printed copies out to give to my students along with handwritten good-bye notes. To my surprise, when I showed up on my last day to present them with the lists and letters, they had also written me good-bye letters and made lists of their favorite books for me to read. It made the recommendations so much more meaningful because I knew them personally.
Humans are the best curators because we don’t just recognize patterns, we see people as more than that and choose based on our own tastes as well as theirs. Sharing books will always be something that brings me joy and I don’t see AI or other technology ever being able to replace human curators.
The article that got me thinking about this topic was:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/30/age-of-algorithm-human-gatekeeper
3 Comments
Michael Stephens
@erikabn Oh wow – what an interesting idea about ChatGPT. Totally agree, AI is not gpoing to chat with you after finishing a book! I tried though…see next comment!
Michael Stephens
ChatGPT
If you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction like “The Stand” by Stephen King and “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel, you might enjoy these books that explore similar themes of survival, society collapse, and the human condition:
“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy – A father and son journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape, struggling to survive while maintaining their humanity.
“Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood – Set in a future world devastated by biotechnological catastrophes, this novel follows Snowman, possibly the last human on Earth, as he reflects on his past and the events leading to the downfall of civilization.
“The Passage” by Justin Cronin – A gripping story that spans generations, following the aftermath of a government experiment gone wrong, which leads to the rise of vampire-like creatures and the struggle for survival.
“World War Z” by Max Brooks – A unique take on the zombie apocalypse genre, this book is structured as a series of interviews with survivors of a global zombie outbreak, providing a global perspective on the crisis.
“The Dog Stars” by Peter Heller – In a world decimated by a flu pandemic and societal collapse, a man and his dog navigate the wilderness and encounter both danger and unexpected hope.
“The Stand” (graphic novel) by Stephen King, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and Mike Perkins – A graphic adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel, offering a visually stunning portrayal of the epic battle between good and evil after a deadly pandemic wipes out most of humanity.
“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler – Set in a near-future America ravaged by climate change, economic collapse, and societal breakdown, a young woman with hyperempathy syndrome sets out on a perilous journey to find safety and build a new community.
“Alas, Babylon” by Pat Frank – A Cold War-era novel that imagines the aftermath of a nuclear war in a small Florida town, focusing on the struggles of a community to rebuild civilization amidst chaos and devastation.
“Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton – In the aftermath of a global catastrophe, an astronomer in the Arctic and an astronaut returning from a mission in space grapple with isolation and existential questions as they confront the end of the world as they know it.
“The Last Policeman” by Ben H. Winters – Against the backdrop of an impending asteroid collision that will likely end life on Earth, a young police detective in New Hampshire investigates a suicide that may not be what it seems, grappling with questions of justice and purpose in a dying world.
My prompt for the above: User
Suggest a book list for fans of The Stand and Station Eleven
Roya Koutchekinia
Hi @erikabn
Nice to see you in another class. Thank you for your lovely post about human curation being superior to those offered by technology and ChatGPT. I totally agree. When I read a good book, or watch a great movie, my first inclination is to discuss it with others, and get their take on it. I haven’t tried to pick ChatGPT’s brain about a book I’ve read, but in general I find ChatGPT to provide canned, and superificial type responses to requests. I adored the story of your middle school students giving you their own lists of recommended books. So heartwarming!