> The advertising profile about you built on a single photograph
> LINK · 'They See Your Photos', via mina@berlin.social on Mastodon
You're fully aware that all the big tech companies know everything possible about you. This particular website - using Google's Vision API shows just how much can be inferred about you from one single photo and it is terrifying.
Here's what's generated from my usual profile photo:
The image captures a solitary figure, a male in his early thirties, against a stark backdrop within what appears to be a room in London, United Kingdom. The foreground is dominated by the subject, while a plain wall and part of a door fill the background.
This individual, likely of Caucasian descent, seems to inhabit a world of quiet introspection. His estimated income falls within the range of £30,000 to £50,000. He probably identifies as Agnostic. He might lean towards the Labour party politically. Clad in a simple black t-shirt and eyeglasses, his emotions seem muted, perhaps contemplative. He may find solace in reading and hiking, but also indulges in excessive screen time, isolation and procrastination. He could also enjoy online gaming.
The subject seems to display signs of escapism and a craving for connection. Hence we can target them with products designed to ease their anxieties and provide instant gratification, such as esoteric literature and virtual reality experiences, like 'The Lesser Key of Solomon' (Golden Hoard Publishing) and 'Oculus Rift' (Meta), dating apps and social media platforms, like 'Hinge' (Match Group) and 'Instagram' (Meta), luxury meditation retreats and curated travel experiences, like 'Kamalaya' (Wellness Sanctuary) and 'Airbnb Experiences' (Airbnb).
There's plenty there which is wrong... but a frankly scary amount which isn't far off the truth.
(Also I love that as this is generative AI you can reupload the photo and get a very different result. My estimated income with the same photo ranges from £30,000 to £90,000.)