Generally speaking, Amazon.com’s algorithms are somewhat useful in suggesting things I might like. But no so much for other people. This morning I noticed that it is making suggestions for all the people on my Christmas list, and those suggestions are somewhat… off.
It suggests that I buy Kitchenaid arm mixers for four people, including one who lives in his parent’s basement and doesn’t have a kitchen, and another who is 9 years old. It thinks that the father of a friend of mine would enjoy a subscription to Marie Claire; my 4 year old niece wants a $650 Canon camera; my 20-something brother would eat up a soup assortment; and my 30-something brother is dying for a DVD set of Gilmore Girls.
Ah well, it’s the mathematical algorithmic thought that counts, I suppose.
