Why Tech Bros Are Now Obsessed with Taste

Silicon Valley has introduced the term “taste” as a new buzzword in the tech world, emphasizing its importance in the AI age.
Influential technologists, like Paul Graham and Koen Bok, assert that “great taste” is crucial for developing successful products.
A.I.-driven tools aim to enhance users’ sense of personal taste by curating content and recommendations based on individual preferences.
The concept of taste has a pragmatic function among tech entrepreneurs; it allegedly determines profitability by discerning what products will be successful.
The focus on tasteful decision-making is significant as AI democratizes technology, pushing companies to rely on unique taste to stand out.
The notion of taste carries generational connotations, reminiscent of the hipster culture that preferred artisanal and lo-fi products, now co-opted by corporate entities.
A.I. companies attempt to appeal to a liberal humanistic view of technology by associating themselves with taste, despite the automation threat posed by their tools.
The term “taste-washing” describes A.I. companies’ efforts to give their automated technologies a liberal humanistic allure.

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