Episode 35 - "Plugged In"

What compels people to throw their money away at a slot machine? In short: design. The design that goes into making a slot machine addicting is deliberate and effective, but restrained in some part by regulation. But what happens when the same tools used to addict people to losing money are released unfettered into products and services we interact with every day, constantly? And how might these tools evolve when aided by artificial intelligence that can customize design for each individual without their consent or awareness? Is such a thing even plausible?

Join us as we explore these questions and much, much more.

Chapters

• 03:16 The Slot Machine
• 07:31 Time on Phone Numbers
• 10:24 Addicting by Design
• 28:00 Notifications
• 33:40 Business of Addiction
• 43:09 The Illusion of Choice
• 56:23 The Children
• 01:00:22 Going Forward?
• 01:04:38 Practical Tips and Tricks

A full transcript is available as well as detailed links and sources (plus credits and more) on our website ashesashes.org.

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CC BY-SA 4.0