Exploring the “ Magic ” of Algorithmic Predictions Joyce Lee Sejal Popat Soravis Prakkamakul UC Berkeley School of Information 2019 MIMS Final Presentation
Why do we think of technology as magic?
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Clarke, A. (1999) [1st pub. 1962, rev. 1973, 1984, 1999]. Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart & Wilson.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Clarke, A. (1999) [1st pub. 1962, rev. 1973, 1984, 1999]. Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart & Wilson.
What underlies algorithmic “ magic ” ? 1 Proprietary concerns 2 Technical illiteracy Burrell, J. (2016). How the Machine ‘Thinks’: Understanding Opacity in Machine Learning Algorithms. Big Data & Society . https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951715622512.
But attempting to predict is nothing new … Astrology Aura Reading Mediumship Numerology Palm Reading Physiognomy Phrenology Psychometry Tarot Card Reading
Can reframing algorithmic predictions with the deliberately Objective mystical lens of divination lead people to reconsider its sense of “ magic ” ?
Within the traditions of reflective & speculative design, we develop Approach an interactive installation that enables technology-mediated tarot-card readings.
1 Will people question how algorithmic prediction works in Research the context of divination? Questions 2 Will people resist sharing personal data for the purpose of “ algorithmic divination ” ?
System Design
Interaction flow Conversational Text Analysis & Personality Tarot Card Interface Visualization Prediction Reading
Black Curtains Card Dispensing Topic Visualization Slot Interior Lamp
Tarot Card Printer Monitor Laptop Microphone Array
Tarot Card Printer Monitor Laptop Microphone Array
Tarot Card Printer Monitor Laptop Microphone Array
Tarot Card Printer Monitor Laptop Microphone Array
Past Prediction Present Prediction Future Prediction
Raw Speech Basic Interactions: Intent Speech Recognition Recognition Skip, Repeat, etc. MBTI Personality Past Prediction Analysis (SpaCy) Topic Analysis Present Prediction (Empath) Sentiment Future Prediction Analysis
Raw Speech Basic Interactions: Intent Speech Recognition Recognition Skip, Repeat, etc. MBTI Personality Past Prediction Analysis (SpaCy) Topic Analysis Present Prediction (Empath) Sentiment Future Prediction Analysis
Raw Speech Basic Interactions: Intent Speech Recognition Recognition Skip, Repeat, etc. MBTI Personality Past Prediction Analysis (SpaCy) Topic Analysis Present Prediction (Empath) Sentiment Future Prediction Analysis
Tarot Card Printer Monitor Laptop Microphone Array
Tarot Card Printer Monitor Laptop Microphone Array
Research Approach
10 Participants Sample Recruited Self-Guided Follow-Up Ages 25-40 via Email Tarot Reading Interview 50% female
1 Questioning whether or not to Resulting share personal data Themes 2 Interrogating underlying technology
1 Questioning whether or not to Resulting share personal data Themes 2 Interrogating underlying technology
Difficult questions “ The questions got . . . pretty personal. ”
Presence of a camera “ I remembered that it was being recorded, like there’s a video. So I wondered, ‘Should I be giving all this information out? ”
Speaking vs. writing “ There is a sense in opening your own mouth to say things that you’re handing over more information … There’s something about talking that makes it feel different ”
1 Questioning whether or not to Resulting share personal data Themes 2 Interrogating underlying technology
1 Questioning whether or not to Resulting share personal data Themes 2 Interrogating underlying technology
Reflection vs. inception “ I wasn’t sure whether I was being reflected or lead ”
Contesting classification … “ If I see I’m kind of pigeon holed … I either reassess myself, or question what the algorithm is latching onto ”
… or being unable to exercise agency “ There’s no real agency to clarify what you mean ”
General sense of opacity “ Its mysterious. I mean we assume they’re working. A lot of prediction is business oriented and we don’t know what’s being maximized. ”
1 Will people question how Research algorithmic prediction works in the context of divination? Questions, 2 Revisited Will people resist sharing personal data for the purpose of “ algorithmic divination ” ?
Insights 1 Participants were most interested in the process of generating predictions, rather than the outcomes themselves
Insights 2 Participants felt they had very little agency to control how they were “ seen ” by the system; many wondered if they were being reflected or led
Implications 1 The magical, optimistic presentation of algorithmic predictions may be doing more harm than good
Implications 2 We see a need for transparent communication of technology’s inner workings, even if this requires purposeful ambiguity and room for interpretation
Why do we think of technology as magic?
Our advisor, Kimiko Ryokai Many Our research participants Our I School professors & Thanks To . . . department staff Our friends & family (that’s you!)
Exploring the “ Magic ” of Algorithmic Predictions Joyce Lee Sejal Popat Soravis Prakkamakul UC Berkeley School of Information 2019 MIMS Final Presentation
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