On Sunday, Mark Zuckerberg updated his Facebook followers on his yearly challenge with a lengthy post published on his personal page. The CEO’s early conclusion seems to be that the social network needs to connect people who should know each other rather than those who already do.
During his crusade to visit and meet people in all the states of the country this year, Zuckerberg has encountered a wide range of different social realities. He has found that most people are shaped by the relationships in their realities more than by other factors.
Still, the young billionaire is only halfway through his journey across America, and his resulting reflections could turn into tangible changes on Facebook once he completes the challenge.
Facebook may use AI to suggest the people you should know
Currently, Facebook’s machine learning endeavors are focused on data gathering, processing, and analysis to find ways in which to make the platform better in every aspect. Soon, though, it may also connect you with people you should meet:
“WE’VE BUILT AI SYSTEMS TO RECOMMEND “PEOPLE YOU MAY KNOW.” BUT IT MIGHT BE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ALSO CONNECT YOU WITH PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW – MENTORS AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR CIRCLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU AND PROVIDE A NEW SOURCE OF SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION.”
Zuckerberg says the scenes he has witnessed in Ohio, Indiana, and Detroit, to name a few, have already set his mind to think about new machine learning models that make those links people may need more than being friends with their grandmas, for example.
The Peace Corps, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous were some of the true social platforms that the CEO mentioned as inspiration for what might come to Facebook in the future. Online mentorship programs to connect both at a digital and human level.
Zuckerberg is not running for office, but people are still skeptical
Since he started his year-long challenge across the United States, many people have pointed out how similar this whole thing is to a political campaign. In spite of rumors, the CEO has denied all of these allegations, saying he just wants to understand people to make better tools to help them.
Analysts have conflicting points of view on the possibility of Zuckerberg running for public office, some saying he is just not cut for it and other claiming he has been building a strong record through the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative.
Other reporters, however, were quick to point out that the head of Facebook only said that he isn’t running for office right now, leaving open the chances of maybe doing so in the future. Zuckerberg has neither denied nor confirmed he has political aspirations.
Source: Facebook
