The problem with this theory is that it relies on users creating play lists for themselves that work well together. There’s plenty of evidence however, that people do stupid things when they know it will adversely affect someone else. Take for example the creature creator for Will Writes new game Spore. This tool was release ahead of the game to populate the spore universe with creatures that could be used to populate the game once it was released. Knowing these creatures would be used in the final product, users started building XBOX controller replica’s, Pokemon characters, basically all the most ridiculous things people are capable of thinking of.

Should this pattern repeat itself with iTunes play lists, people will start making the most ridiculous song play lists they can think of in order to take away from the experience the genius services is intending to provide. If the folks at apple have put in the effort to detect these kinds of anomalous play lists, the genius services will be nothing more than a shuffle by genre feature. If no detection algorithm exists genius will become useless garbage. And if I’m wrong about the inklings of humanity, then genius might be a pretty good service. Unfortunately my faith in the ability of the adolescent to find humor in the mindless antagonizing of their peers is far to strong to change my opinion that genius is not worth all the hype.

Cheers,

Tarandon

Update: As if he was reading my mind here’s Ross Wolinsky, proving that if a person can be annoying using the internet, they will.