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ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu

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Re: ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

#3
While not exactly aligned to the research, I've been surprised how poor Nest Thermostat's learning feature is.

The main selling point for Nest is having a "learning thermostat". Perhaps my schedule is just not predictable enough, but the auto-generated temperature schedules it generates after its "learning" period is not even close to what I would manually set up on a normal thermostat.

Maybe I'm just an "edge case" or part of the "long tail"

Re: ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

#4
> Sophisticated methods and “big data” can in certain contexts improve predictions, but usually only slightly, and prediction remains very imprecise

The worst part of big data is the data itself. Used to be common will be shared on Facebook webs about "what is your political compass". There results were used to create political profiles of users and targeted propaganda.

You don't need ML to predict the data that there user already has given.

Re: ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

#6
post #3

While not exactly aligned to the research, I've been surprised how poor Nest Thermostat's learning feature is. The main selling point for Nest is having a "learning thermostat". Perhaps my schedule is just not predictable enough, but the auto-generated temperature schedules it generates after its "learning" period is not even close to what I would manually set up on a normal thermostat. Maybe I'm just an "edge case"…

Nah, you're not. I just gave up on mine and have a schedule. I also turned off "pre-cooling" because it would just kick on at like 6pm to "cool" the house for bedtime. I also bought several temperature sensors to use, which are fun. At night I have the thermostat use the sensor in my bedroom, then goes back to the main thermostat during the day.

Re: ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

#7
post #3

While not exactly aligned to the research, I've been surprised how poor Nest Thermostat's learning feature is. The main selling point for Nest is having a "learning thermostat". Perhaps my schedule is just not predictable enough, but the auto-generated temperature schedules it generates after its "learning" period is not even close to what I would manually set up on a normal thermostat. Maybe I'm just an "edge case"…

When people hear that FAANG is involved in something an "Emperor's Clothes" effect kicks in and people stop making the usual assumption that "if it doesn't work for me it probably doesn't work for other people"

Re: ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

#9
post #3

While not exactly aligned to the research, I've been surprised how poor Nest Thermostat's learning feature is. The main selling point for Nest is having a "learning thermostat". Perhaps my schedule is just not predictable enough, but the auto-generated temperature schedules it generates after its "learning" period is not even close to what I would manually set up on a normal thermostat. Maybe I'm just an "edge case"…

Or, maybe they invested far more cash and care in marketing that feature than in programming that feature...

Re: ML is not that good at predicting consumers' choices

#10
post #3

While not exactly aligned to the research, I've been surprised how poor Nest Thermostat's learning feature is. The main selling point for Nest is having a "learning thermostat". Perhaps my schedule is just not predictable enough, but the auto-generated temperature schedules it generates after its "learning" period is not even close to what I would manually set up on a normal thermostat. Maybe I'm just an "edge case"…

"Why am I sweating right now? Oh, the Nest set the temperature too high again!"

And then after a few instances, I just turn off all the automation and set up a schedule like normal.

Same with the "away from home" which seems to randomly think I'm away and I have no idea why.

Oh, and the app doesn't show me filter reminders, only the actual device, which I never touch all the way downstairs. There's not even any status to let me know if it's accepted a new dialed-in temperature, as I've had it fail to capture a request, and then I go back, and see it never updated/saved the new temp. Just zero feedback to confirm that the thermostat has responded to any input, and zero notification from the app if this happens.

Just thoroughly unimpressed.

Thankfully I didn't buy this junk, as it was pre-installed by the owner of my rental. Can't imagine actually paying for something that's only real feature is being able to remotely control my temperature once in a while.

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