Netflix has a contest to make their prediction algorithm better. If you can make it 10% better, you win a million bucks. Pretty neat, huh?
What really surprised me is how good their prediction algorithm is already. And in their FAQ they mention that on top of their algorithm predicting what you’ll like based on shared interests with random people, there are other, non-algorithmic factors that are added, such as the area where you live and what your friends recommend to you.
Apparently Netflix and Amazon are seen as the top two “recommenders” in the biz. They’ll publish the winner, as I understand it.