Oops, Said the Algorithm. Didnt Mean To Put That There!

Contextual advertising has a ways to go yet. There is a certain coolness to technology that can read content and then instantly grab an ad to go with it, but the day remains as to when these algorithms will be able to exercise good judgment. Currently, contextual ads are the guy at the party who brought the beer and the music, but hushes the crowd on occasion of his inappropriate humor-cracking wheelchair jokes at the Special Olympics. Today's example of unfortunate ad pairings comes from CNN. When an Air France Airbus crashed aflame alongside a Toronto highway this morning, the story on its own ad placed by an article announcing London's winning of the venue? Funny? Very. Sad? That too. These are the more ironic examples. Mark Glaser has a nice analysis as well. Maybe one day in the artificial intelligence future, some algorithmic genius will figure out how to provide them with good taste, a stronger ability to judge, decide, and react, without world domination "for humankind's own good" proclivities. Until then, we can sit back and laugh as accidents happen. Or gasp with abhorrence.