Using playfulness and empowerment to mask hard machine learning problems
In the world of AI and machine learning we see a fascinating design challenge—systems that need to make mistakes to learn. As a father of two daughters, I recognize this approach—clicking all the buttons on the remote, or maybe throwing it. Just like children, if you prevent machine learning systems from making mistakes, you hold back their potential. Engaging playfully with systems that are learning better aligns expectations, gives technology more latitude to explore, and accelerates training.
I was working with an engineer from Sony named Masahiro Shimohori. We were discussing the possibility that AI could orchestrate a serendipitous moment between two people — invisibly nudging both people towards a delightful encounter. He said to me, “The opportunity for serendipity is a half-step ahead of the present.” While I still don’t know exactly what it meant, the words inspired a number of projects exploring playfulness and the subconscious.
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