Is the Algorithm Destroying Taste? With Polyester Editor-In-Chief Ione Gamble

Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet. I'm senior producer Mia Sorrenti. What we like has never been entirely our own. Taste has always been shaped by class, culture, and the people around us. But in the age of algorithms and AI, our preferences are increasingly being predicted, curated, and sold back to us. In this episode I speak to Ione Gamble, founding editor of Polyester Zime, about how taste is formed, why it matters, and what happens when algorithms replacity with convenience.

From Spotify recommendations and TikTok trends to influencer culture and AI generated content. Gandal argues that digital platforms are flattening culture by rewarding familiarity over surprise. Why do our feeds increasingly feel the same? Are we choosing what we like or simply consuming what algorithms decide to show us? And what happens to creativity when artists begin making work for recommendation engines rather than people?

Drawing on the polyester book of Bad Taste, a collection of essays by writers including Nikola Dinan, Yomi Adagoke, and Any Gamble herself. Gamble makes the case for reclaiming our own tastes. She argues that resisting algorithmic culture means embracing friction. Seeking recommendations from real people and allowing ourselves the freedom to discover things we never expected to love. Let's join the discussion now. Hi, Ione, welcome to Intelligence Squared. It's really nice to have you here.

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