Netflix is testing human-curated 'Collections'

[Polycount]

In context: Technology is both a blessing and a curse in many ways. It's provided us with seemingly-endless medical advancements that have expanded the average human's lifespan, but it's also led to a number of other not-so-positive outcomes, such as wide-scale privacy issues, data breaches, and more. On a smaller scale, one particular technological advancement has a foot in both camps: algorithms (and machine learning in general).

On the one hand, machine learning is a fantastic way to simplify many tedious processes, such as data entry. On the other hand, though, it can seem a bit creepy: algorithm-driven recommendations across various media sites can sometimes feel a bit too personal, or in other cases, completely off-base. Either way, one thing's certain: some (but certainly not all) internet users would prefer not to have an AI recommend content to them.

To address this (admittedly minor) problem, Netflix is reportedly testing out a "Collections" feature for the platform's iOS version, according to The Verge. Collections are completely human-curated, and, as the name implies, they are effectively groups of content with different labels attached.

Unfortunately, we aren't part of the test ourselves and thus can't confirm precisely how Collections work. However, based on others' findings, the feature will have its own dedicated tab next to TV Shows and Movies in the Netflix app. Once you pull up the appropriate interface, you'll see sleek and attractive-looking groups of content with various titles, such as "Watch In One Night," "Keep It Light," or "Stream & Scream" -- which should all be pretty self-explanatory.

This content has allegedly been hand-picked by critics, so depending on how much weight you attach to the opinion of media reviewers, that may be a positive or negative thing for you. In any case, it's at least nice to see Netflix give users a chance to experience word-of-mouth recommendations without needing to leave the app.

We'll let you know if this test is successful and rolls out to Netflix proper, but in the meantime, drop us a line below if you see Collections pop up in your Netflix app anytime soon.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/81590-netflix-testing-human-curated-collections.html

 

[ShagnWagn]

No such thing as "AI". More like "AS". Artificial Stupidity. Computers only do what we tell them to do.

 

[Nero7]

There's this thing called "tagging" but I guess only "certain" websites make use of it so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[trgz]

I want the ability to automatically filter out crap (ie films/series staring certain actors, or genres) - I find both curated and AI collections way off my viewing tastes.

 

[Yynxs]

I don't want anything from their AIs or curators. I don't want suggestions. I don't want groupings. I want a list of movies or series I can browse the titles of, or the years of, without having some insane trailer running to interrupt my train of thought every single second.

Netflix can provide the other services to those trivial people who can't read a book without reading the reviews first or fear being alone in their minds without a constant stream of distractions to keep them from looking into their own abyss. If they would only leave a button for the rest of us to turn off the 'stream of consciousness' crap nightmare video filler designed by the same minds that brought you shockwave flash advertising. Just leave me a button that turn that crap off and let me browse at my own speed and my own interests.

They won't do that though. It defeats the concept of AI observation where the mere act of pausing to fart while scrolling means the user "MAY" be interested in this artificially grouped type of media.

Hence the reason the wife and daughter watch Netflix regularly and I check to see if the movie or series I'm interested in are even on the service in the search engine and nowhere else. Otherwise, it's not worth the aggravation of the Netflix constant "spam noise in the stacks" display designed by over-caffeinated Adderal fueled ADHD 'sorta high-level functioning' devs.

BINB

yynxs

 

[Mister_K]

No such thing as "AI". More like "AS". Artificial Stupidity. Computers only do what we tell them to do.

Sounds like you don't know much about AI/Computers. Curation is great, Google does it will with their music service.

 

[ShagnWagn]

Sounds like you don't know much about AI/Computers. Curation is great, Google does it will with their music service.

Well my credentials are computers for 35 years, and professionally for 25+ years. I work with them daily, and I know that computers do not just create new code by themselves. They do what we tell them to do. This isn't some SkyNet fantasy.

 

[Yynxs]

No such thing as "AI". More like "AS". Artificial Stupidity. Computers only do what we tell them to do.

Sounds like you don't know much about AI/Computers. Curation is great, Google does it will with their music service.

And it sounds like you don't know much about Google AI and curation. Perhaps you should read up on the curated content the Uighurs are getting or maybe the curated lives Google AI is giving the Chinese are living with 'social credit'.

The same thing is happening to you, but you won't know because what is subtracted before you perceive it is never known. Google just has to get the sheep used to the idea that the AI knows best what you'll like. To bring it back to Netflix, human curation reminds me very much of the 'friendly censorship' of parenting, "That's pretty adult, for now look at this, you can watch that when you're older".

Any pre-filtering is censorship. AI is the worst kind because the content isn't evaluated in real human terms but only sorted by some human's code words and that human has their own agenda and history. Imagine only one teacher your entire life and that teacher ALWAYS WATCHING out for your 'well being'. Welcome to China and Google curation in conjunction with human (Xi group) direction.

I wonder what music you'll never hear because you think being 'curated' is a good thing and what movies in the Netflix collection I'll never see unless I look them up somewhere else and name search them.

yynxs

 

[ShagnWagn]

And it sounds like you don't know much about Google AI and curation. Perhaps you should read up on the curated content the Uighurs are getting or maybe the curated lives Google AI is giving the Chinese are living with 'social credit'.

The same thing is happening to you, but you won't know because what is subtracted before you perceive it is never known. Google just has to get the sheep used to the idea that the AI knows best what you'll like. To bring it back to Netflix, human curation reminds me very much of the 'friendly censorship' of parenting, "That's pretty adult, for now look at this, you can watch that when you're older".

Any pre-filtering is censorship. AI is the worst kind because the content isn't evaluated in real human terms but only sorted by some human's code words and that human has their own agenda and history. Imagine only one teacher your entire life and that teacher ALWAYS WATCHING out for your 'well being'. Welcome to China and Google curation in conjunction with human (Xi group) direction.

I wonder what music you'll never hear because you think being 'curated' is a good thing and what movies in the Netflix collection I'll never see unless I look them up somewhere else and name search them.

yynxs

Perhaps be constructive and guide me where to read if you think I don't know?

If it's "happening", then it's a laughing stock because nothing I have come across ever has any content of "what I'll like". Other than key words of related words, it's clueless. Especially when I clean up my tracks and block scripts. On the backend, all matches are is by key words and what other humans with similar likes have flagged as related. No computer "AS" exists. In fact, numerous times I have commented how disgusting a certain restaurant is, and it blasts me with advertisements from them. SMH

Kind of, except I know how to get around all of that nonsense.

I could really care less what music I'll never hear. The music recommendations is laughable on what is supposed to be suggested. Again, it's artificial stupidity, not intelligence. Netflix is laughable, too. I gave them a chance and only 1 out of 10 movies I wanted to watch they even had, and it was in 2-channel audio. LOL. 2019 and they want me to watch the newest star trek in 2-channel audio? SMH