What I'm talking about here is the default Microsoft page when you go to edge and the news feed that automatically pops up. I have in the past thought of it as friendly and useful and convenient. But over time and especially lately I've noticed some things that I have mixed feelings about. For one thing I don't want a closed bubble of feedback. I think I've been successful at getting around that, for example, by clicking on Fox news and others sometimes and the algorithm picks up on that and includes Fox in the feed.

This first video is just the tip of the iceberg.

https://youtu.be/XAEJ97UkH7Y?si=7ll3EGCqrUUwMkRc

Understanding Algorithms in Everyday Life

======================================

Here's what MSN says:
Each time a consumer views the Microsoft Start feed, it refreshes with the latest personalized content. Based on various signals, algorithms select and order content in the feed with editorial oversight. Mar 13, 2024

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/02/tech/microsoft-ai-news

How Microsoft is making a mess of the news after replacing staff with AI

By Donie O'Sullivan and Allison Gordon, CNN
7 minute read
Updated 11:11 AM EDT, Thu November 2, 2023

There's a lot more, but I don't have the time right now.

Was recently on vacation in the U.P. Of Michigan and thoroughly enjoyed no cell signal for a couple days.

quote:

Originally posted by tomahawker:
Was recently on vacation in the U.P. Of Michigan and thoroughly enjoyed no cell signal for a couple days.

gorgeous place, friendly people, lots of fish on the menu, cool temps -- and, if you indulge, a little bit of fudge

Well, I thank Biden with his infrastructure thing for fast fiber optic rural internet.

Yea, when I made the trip to AK there are places where there's no internet for many miles. I didn't mind.

So, to stay on topic, over the last few months I've noticed that the news/article feed default presents news or articles on topics I've recently searched on. But it goes further than that. Of course, it could be just coincidence, but it's happened frequently. It seems that just thinking about something and bingo - several articles show up on the feed next day.

The occurrences happened with various things such as fishing in a particular location, obscure how-to stuff, not just politics.

It seemed like no big deal, so I didn't worry about it for the most part, but I did take notice.

But lo and behold, this morning the news/article feed was loaded with articles about narcissist. I had not used that word or did a search on it recently. So, why now I thought.

Really, there were at least eight articles ranging from how to identify, how to deal with, their tactics for control and denial of self-awareness, and thoroughly exploring relationships where a narcissist disrupts one's getting on in the world, and messes with one's mind and self. And more articles popped up through the day.

The only thing related I can think of is I got into a continuing argument herein with someone I consider a narcissist and ran into a brick wall.

I went to bed last night sorta down about it, but this morning I had plenty of reading material that helped me sort it out. It turns out that I had been going about it all wrong.

Now, I learned something. But it's troubling - is that darn computer thing reading my mind?

So, that's my story. I'm wondering if anyone else has a similar epiphany story, true of course.

We are being siloed, cocooned in our own little echo chambers with heavily managed news to help with our decision-making.

Yes Tom, I agree, but that's the narrow view of what I'm talking about.

The coincidences I've explained seem beyond logical, from what I and perhaps we know.

And just knowing what you said may be so, there are ways to get out of the echo chamber.

One way, perhaps a small way, is participating herein.

We, at least I don't come here for affirmation. I think it's more about expression.

I have had the exact same experience many times now. But I have at least talked about “the topic.”

I have figured my smart phone is listening to me and sending the data in to a processing unit somewhere.

Thanks, Lane.

That's the feedback I am looking for.

Yea, smart phone listening too. I have seen articles pop up on my so called news feed about something obscure that I mentioned in a phone conversation.

Again, it could be coincidence and I'm connecting dots that don't really connect.

One thing that's sorta reassuring is that I'm not getting fed articles that are way out there or just weird, or sick.

But this morning's occurrence really stood out.

They are not friendly. They are attention seeking. Think of them like a dog or child. They are actively seeking your attention. Because time is money. My phone stays switched off unless I need to use it. I limit my time on apps like insta. I stick with proven sources of information on Twitter as much as possible. And I ignore all obvious clickbait. Its about all you can do.

I have had too many experiences where I was involved in a verbal discussion about something, and it popped up on my computer the next time I turned it on. The most recent occurrence was a camera tripod. I don't even have a cell phone but was speaking to my grandson who always has his in his pocket. When it comes this kind of thing, my weird shit-o-meter hits the red zone almost daily. Regards, Bill

Thanks Bill.

I fully expected advice from some herein to get myself a better tinfoil hat.

That may yet happen. But I was pretty sure I was not the only one having these experiences.

In all the cases I can think about, especially today, the news/article feed was right on and helpful.

So, I'm not complaining. I'm just amazed at what the evidence tends towards.

It's almost like those sy-fy movies where some benevolent thing is talking to the protagonist.

And a malevolent thing is talking to the antagonist.

If we really want to go deep (sidetrack?) with analogies, mythical, mystical, fictional or real, on the dark side, think of the depictions of Gríma Wormtongue in Lord of the Rings and Grigori Rasputin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ormtongue#References

https://thetolkien.forum/threa...-middle-earth.19501/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin

But there is at least one who is real, presently:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...WOW?ocid=socialshare

Former Trump aide Stephen Miller spouts conspiracy theory about Kamala Harris and human trafficking
Story by Nandika Chatterjee • 3d • 2 min read

quote:

Originally posted by Magine Enigam:
Yes Tom, I agree, but that's the narrow view of what I'm talking about.

The coincidences I've explained seem beyond logical, from what I and perhaps we know.

And just knowing what you said may be so, there are ways to get out of the echo chamber.

One way, perhaps a small way, is participating herein.

We, at least I don't come here for affirmation. I think it's more about expression.

They are either not coincidences, or targeted around other indications of your interests.
Think the old Kuder Preference Tests, where our responses are compared to others.
Our search topics are public knowledge, and the ads are not likely to be random.

I'm just glad, first, that others have noticed similar experience.

I suspect it's happening to us all, but some haven't noticed.

I can put away my tinfoil hat and break out my beanie with the little propeller on top.

To sum up what I learned from those articles AI fed me this morning was something I already knew plus something new.

The shameless can't be ashamed.
and (new)
A narcissist can't be embarrassed.

Use a different browser.

Like DuckDuckGo.

I stopped using Edge years ago.

As well as Outlook.

Try setting up a new email account.

You have to go through hoops!