Topic: Amazon Algorithm

President Trump issued an executive order granting a 75-day extension for the sale of TikTok to American investors to prevent the app from going dark. Reports suggest Amazon, Oracle, and Apple are interested in the purchase, though ByteDance may retain control of the algorithm. The hosts suggest Amazon stands to benefit most from the acquisition as it would eliminate competition from Chinese "social shopping" platforms.

A New York Times journalist explains how social media algorithms feed similar aesthetics to different creators, making it difficult to prove intentional copying. The hosts argue that if "vibes" become copyrightable, it will stifle the content creator economy. They briefly reminisce about past podcast competitors like "The Morning Stream" and "Unfiltered."

Delivery drivers for Amazon and Whole Foods have developed a hack to secure more routes by hanging cell phones in trees near dispatch locations. By placing devices in close physical proximity to the stores, the drivers' software can "snag" delivery assignments the instant they are generated by the algorithm. This practice illustrates the extreme measures gig economy workers take to gain a competitive advantage in automated systems.

Amazon apologizes for a technical glitch that sent baby registry emails to customers who did not have registries. A more serious report from Channel 4 reveals that Amazon's "frequently bought together" algorithm recommends ingredients for crude bombs, such as saltpeter and ball bearings. The hosts suggest that traditional media networks highlight these stories to undermine their digital competitors.

Amazon faces accusations of price gouging in Florida as bottled water prices reportedly spiked ahead of Hurricane Irma. The company denies engaging in "surge pricing" but admits to using "dynamic pricing" algorithms that adjust costs based on demand. The hosts criticize the use of machine learning to jack up prices for essential goods during emergencies, arguing it subverts traditional supply and demand principles.

The hosts critique the effectiveness of Amazon's recommendation algorithms, noting that the system often suggests products the user has already purchased. They argue that "Big Data" is frequently a myth, as evidenced by the clumsy and redundant marketing emails they receive. The discussion touches on how tracking cookies and "following" ads fail to understand actual consumer behavior.