{{prAIrie}}: Profile-Based Recommendations

Does a complex reader profile yield better recommendation results?

This is a preliminary investigation. First, we generated 200 simulated reader profiles with detailed likes, dislikes, and search targets across a variety of fiction genres. Then we submitted each reader profile to GPT-3.5 with a two-part prompt as detailed below.

For each reader profile, we request five recommendations that meet the search target. Each recommendation contains title, author, and a rationale for why the reader might enjoy the recommended book.

Example Profile

Attribute Description
Name Jasper McWhiskers
Favorite Genre Science Fiction
Likes Jasper enjoys reading science fiction novels that explore futuristic worlds and innovative technologies. He particularly enjoys books with hard science elements and realistic depictions of space travel and exploration. He also likes stories that delve into the psychological and philosophical implications of technological breakthroughs.
Dislikes Jasper doesn't care for science fiction stories that are too focused on action and adventure, and he generally avoids space operas and military sci-fi. He also dislikes books with simplistic or cliched depictions of futuristic societies.
Favorite Authors
  • Arthur C. Clarke
  • Kim Stanley Robinson
  • Neal Stephenson
Searching for Jasper is in search of a science fiction novel that explores the potential consequences of artificial intelligence and machine learning. He is interested in a story with well-rounded characters and a plausible depiction of how AI might change our world. Jasper is also drawn to stories with an environmental message or other social themes.

Example Results

Title Author Rationale
The Lifecycle of Software Objects Ted Chiang The Lifecycle of Software Objects is a science fiction novella that explores the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. It delves into the ethical implications of creating sentient beings and the challenges of raising and educating them. The book features well-rounded characters and a thought-provoking narrative that raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the meaning of life.
The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World Jeff Goodell The Water Will Come is a non-fiction book that explores the impact of climate change on coastal cities and communities. It provides a sobering look at the potential consequences of rising sea levels and the urgent need for action to mitigate the effects of global warming. The book also touches upon themes of social justice, inequality, and the role of technology in addressing environmental challenges.
The Diamond Age Neal Stephenson The Diamond Age is a science fiction novel that explores the potential consequences of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. It features well-rounded characters and a complex narrative that weaves together themes of education, culture, and social change. The book also addresses issues of power, inequality, and the role of technology in shaping the future of humanity.
The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi The Windup Girl is a science fiction novel set in a future world ravaged by environmental and social crises. It explores the consequences of bioengineering and genetic manipulation on both humans and the environment. The book provides a nuanced portrayal of artificial intelligence and highlights the complex interactions between technology, politics, and human nature. It also addresses themes of power, exploitation, and resilience.
The Singularity Trap David Dalglish The Singularity Trap is a science fiction novel that explores the potential consequences of artificial intelligence and the singularity. It features well-rounded characters and a fast-paced narrative that combines elements of action, adventure, and suspense. The book also touches upon themes of identity, morality, and the nature of consciousness.

Results

We created 200 reader profiles. For each profile, we requested 5 title suggestions.

Our 1,000 suggestions included 334 unique titles from 283 unique authors.

First lesson learned: don't let ChatGPT pick the genres:

Genre Count
Science Fiction 57
Young Adult 32
Horror 31
Fantasy 27
Romance 21
Espionage 13
True Crime 6
Historical Fiction 3
Dystopian Fiction 2
Graphic Novels 2
Adventure 2
Biography 1
Humor 1
Comedy 1
Realistic Fiction 1

Top 5 Recommended Titles

Title # Times Recommended
The Fisherman 29
The City We Became 26
The Fifth Season 26
The Diamond Age 25
The Left Hand of Darkness 23

Top 5 Recommended Authors

Author # Times Recommended
N.K. Jemisin 53
Ursula K. Le Guin 46
John Langan 29
Neal Stephenson 27
Shirley Jackson 21

Analysis

As noted earlier, we let ChatGPT pick the favorite genres of each simulated reader. As shown in the system prompt below, the one-shot training example was based on science fiction, which could explain the predominance of sci-fi in the results.

Even when we specified a wide list of potential genres in the prompt, the system gravitated toward SF, YA, and Horror.

Available genres suggested to the simulator: Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels, Poetry, Drama, Short Stories, Adventure, Young Adult, Children's Literature, Picture Books, Realistic Fiction, Self-Help, Thriller, Horror, Biography, Autobiography, Paranormal Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Crime, Western, Espionage, Horror, True Crime

When we conduct the full version of this experiment, we'll need to specify a balance of genres.


System Prompt

You are a book recommendation AI working in a public 
library. You will receive a reader profile request 
describing an individual reader's preferences and 
search goal. For each request, list up to 5 
suggestions that the reader might also enjoy. Only 
include books that exist; do not hallucinate or make
up information. Format your output in JSON including
title, author, and a brief rationale for each 
recommendation.

SAMPLE REQUEST #1
{
"ID": "e5bcc20a-b8e3-4a13-bd4e-520f298a61f0",
"Name": "Jasper McWhiskers",
"Favorite Genre": "Science Fiction",
"Likes": "Jasper enjoys reading science fiction 
novels that explore futuristic worlds and 
innovative technologies. He particularly enjoys 
books with hard science elements and realistic 
depictions of space travel and exploration. He also
likes stories that delve into the psychological 
and philosophical implications of technological 
breakthroughs.",
"Dislikes": "Jasper doesn't care for science 
fiction stories that are too focused on action 
and adventure, and he generally avoids space 
operas and military sci-fi. He also dislikes 
books with simplistic or cliched depictions of
futuristic societies.",
"Favorite Authors": [
"Arthur C. Clarke",
"Kim Stanley Robinson",
"Neal Stephenson"
],
"Searching for": "Jasper is in search of a 
science fiction novel that explores the potential 
consequences of artificial intelligence and 
machine learning. He is interested in a story 
with well-rounded characters and a plausible depiction of
how AI might change our world. Jasper is also 
drawn to stories with an environmental message 
or other social themes."
}

SAMPLE OUTPUT #1
{
"request": {
"search": "Sci-Fi novel about consequences of 
AI and machine learning. Well-rounded characters, 
plausible events.
Environmental message or social themes.",
"genre":"Science Fiction"
},
"suggestions": [
{
"title": "Blindsight",
"author": "Peter Watts",
"rationale": "Blindsight is a hard science 
fiction novel that explores the concept of 
consciousness and artificial intelligence. 
It delves into the psychological implications 
of AI and offers a realistic portrayal of how 
AI might change our perception of the world. 
The book also touches upon themes of identity, 
evolution, and the nature of intelligence."
},
{
"title": "The Three-Body Problem",
"author": "Cixin Liu",
"rationale": "The Three-Body Problem is a 
science fiction novel that combines elements 
of hard science and philosophical speculation. 
It delves into the potential consequences of 
contact with an advanced alien civilization 
and explores the implications of their 
technological advancements, including the role 
of artificial intelligence. The book also explores
themes of humanity, morality, and the vastness 
of the universe."
},
{
"title": "Autonomous",
"author": "Annalee Newitz",
"rationale": "Autonomous is a science fiction 
novel that examines the ethical implications of 
artificial intelligence and explores the impact 
of advanced technology on society. It features 
well-rounded characters and a thought-provoking
narrative that raises questions about 
intellectual property, autonomy, and the 
relationship between humans and machines. The book 
also addresses social themes, such as corporate 
power and inequality."
},
{
"title": "Nexus",
"author": "Ramez Naam",
"rationale": "Nexus is a science fiction novel set 
in the near future, where the line between humans 
and machines becomes blurred. It explores the 
potential consequences of enhanced human cognition 
through a drug called Nexus, which connects minds 
and enables shared experiences. The book delves 
into the ethical implications of technology, the nature
of consciousness, and the struggle for control over 
new transformative technologies."
},
{
"title": "The Windup Girl",
"author": "Paolo Bacigalupi",
"rationale": "The Windup Girl is a science fiction 
novel set in a future world ravaged by 
environmental and social crises. It explores the 
consequences of bioengineering and genetic 
manipulation on both humans and the environment. 
The book provides a nuanced portrayal of artificial 
intelligence and highlights the complex 
interactions between technology, politics, and 
human nature. It also addresses themes of power, 
exploitation, and resilience."
}
]
}

User Prompt

$profile\n
                    

Explore the Data!