Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#1

Post by Libertatea » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 8:42 PM UTC

Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon
extremetech.com

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#2

Post by jbperry » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:14 PM UTC

As formulaic as some series are, I wonder how long it will be until a best seller is "written" by a program?

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#3

Post by fudged71 » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:14 PM UTC

Thanks for the link, this was really interesting. Compiling and creating content in a human readable for can be extremely valuable. I wonder if this system will be used for artificial intelligence purposes some day; learning about any topic on the web.

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#4

Post by pbreit » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:15 PM UTC

If Amazon's search and discovery work correctly, no one should see these books until they start generating sales. So it might almost be like they don't exist until/unless the "publisher" can generate some interest and sales.

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#5

Post by mcantelon » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:15 PM UTC

"Application is language independent." My guess is these "books" are pretty horrible. Interesting idea though.

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#6

Post by kgc » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:16 PM UTC

Title is incorrect. There are only 522826 of this author's books listed on Amazon, not 800000: http://goo.gl/byxKn

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#7

Post by rwg » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:18 PM UTC

Just what Amazon needs: 800,000 computer-generated books crapping up the listings along with the thousands of on-demand printed copies of Wikipedia articles. Wonderful.

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#8

Post by bdcravens » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:18 PM UTC

I looked at some of the author's titles - they all had one star

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#9

Post by JasonFruit » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:21 PM UTC

At 29 USD for 38 pages, Basketry[0] doesn't look like a particularly useful buy.

Also, from the description: "…editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process." Is it really correct to describe that as an editorial decision? (Not to mention "editorial decisions…is"?)

[0]: http://www.amazon.com/Basketry-Websters-Timeline-History-700...

Re: Programmer creates 800,000 books algorithmically, starts selling them on Amazon

#10

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Dec 14, 2012, 9:22 PM UTC

jbperry wrote: post #2

As formulaic as some series are, I wonder how long it will be until a best seller is "written" by a program?

This is more like what I'd expect from a next generation search engine than from a book.