DISQUS

20bits: The Dangers of Genetic Optimization

  • Jamaal · 1 year ago
    Or can you apply it properly to this one? The world isn't linear, and combinations still matter.
  • gregdingle · 1 year ago
    Hi Jesse, the black box aspect of genetic algorithms can definitely be a drawback. I've just launched genetify as an open-source project.

    http://github.com/gregdingle/genetify/wikis/home

    I'm hoping people will incorporate different testing and optimization algorithms into it -- ANOVA, bayesian, GA -- so you can pick one to suit your purpose.
  • Jesse Farmer · 1 year ago
    Greg,

    Very cool. I'll keep an eye out.

    I'd love to meet up some time. You're in SF, right? Are you ever down in the peninsula?
  • Someone · 7 months ago
    "There's no learning"? From a business point of view, there is. You found a way to increase revenues with little effort. That trick is worth remembering.
  • Jesse Farmer · 7 months ago
    My point was that you didn't learn anything about your customers that can be applied in a different tactical situation. You don't know anything about their motivations, their interests, or their state of mind.

    So, although you get one result (increased revenue) you also lose something of value (verifiable knowledge about your customers). There's a tradeoff there, and perhaps you're willing to make it.