Never Say Sell

CHAPTER 6The Challenge of Serving Complex Networks

Sitting outside at a picnic table on PIE's campus, Tom enjoys a salad as he notices one of PIE's college interns reading something intently on his phone.

Tom's interest is sparked, “What has you glued to your phone?”

The intern, not sheepish at all, spins his phone around for Tom to see. There on the screen is a sleek profile of another young adult. There is information about the woman's hobbies – whitewater kayaking, downhill skiing, and backpacking – which Tom knew to be the same as the intern's hobbies.

Always curious, Tom asks, “How exactly does the app make such a perfect match?”

The intern dives in: “The app – Hinge – uses a Nobel-Prize-winning algorithm to help you zero in on the right person for you. You're eight times more likely to have a great date with someone you actually like by using the app. It uses your interests in the algorithm.”

Tom lets this sink in. With an algorithm that strong, why is his smart, funny intern still single?

He softens his thoughts verbally, “Okay. This is interesting. Is the algorithm working for you?”

The intern chuckles. He knows Tom well and could read his tone. “Well, Hinge has been working okay for me, but I haven't found the perfect girl yet. It connects you based on mutual interests, but the connection ends there, really. My friend who is in San Francisco just started using this other app, The League, that goes beyond just matching based on mutual stuff. It matches people together ...