Is Keigo Really like an Episode of Black Mirror?
As a part of Keigo app launch we were hunted on Product Hunt, finishing in the top 4. Over the next few days Product Hunt Tweeted about us four times — we are very grateful. They added their own take on us: “Very BlackMirror –ish”, which refers to a fantastic Netflix series of that name. The series in question has to do with futuristic tech gone bad in often rather contemporary looking settings. It is both weird and realistic / futuristic at the same time.
Most likely, there is a particular BlackMirror episode, which crossed minds of the good people at Product Hunt. “Nosedive” deals with social interactions and advanced tech, matching Keigo domain accordingly. Hence, we guess that this is the association or reference that came to people at Product Hunt social media team.
It must be clarified, that chances are, that professionals at Product Hunt did not have an opportunity to look into us thoroughly, as there is an endless stream of products featured at Product Hunt site. Moreover, our product description probably inspired their associations. Although, “Human interaction assisted by AI”, is rather descriptive and sexy, it does evoke concerns. It fails to address cognitive self-reflection and user empowerment — cornerstones of Keigo — as it emphasizes behavioral aspect of Keigo. Keigo is new and unique, AI assisted food for thought — rather than delegation of behavior or decision making to AI.
What is Nosedive all about? Spoiler alert!
This episode paints a picture of a society, which has turned into a phony conformist hellhole, where false-self zombies constantly evaluate and rate one another over simple and mundane every day social interactions. It is like TripAdvisor meets Uber (rate experience) meets Facebook — or something along those lines. Frankly: people rate each other left and right, and one’s approval rating (0–5) defines, literally, a person’s worth on all walks of life.
Although, on surface, everything is (superficially) sweet and polite in this World, human interactions are induced by thinly veiled passive-aggressiveness, which turns quickly into blatant hostility, as everyone is a slave to acceptance of others at all times — especially those with better ratings (read: rich, famous & beautiful). Elusive digital chains and ratings or points, provided by others, run everything from entry to a workplace to utilization of public transportation. You are your rating. No operationalization. No a priori human value. No nuance. Just Orwellian metrics running Amok.
In regards to Keigo, there are way too many topics to address here, but here are three key pointers.
1. Psychology of cross-evaluations
Keigo has a feature, which provides an opportunity to ask for other peoples’ opinion of the user — but unlike in “Nosedive”, such an estimate is not based on interaction satisfaction of a social exchange or customer contact event. In Keigo you can ask for others input concerning your natural tendencies. It is a one-time affair, extracted from people who, both wish you well and know you well. In other words, Keigo provides a way for people, who want the best for you, to contribute in a constructive manner. One profile is not better or worse than another one, so that neither the user nor the cross-evaluators are put into compromising situations.
We all are dependent on other peoples’ opinions of us.
Occasionally, you run into people, who state that they do not care, what other people think of them. That is a nice thought, but it is simply not true. We are all dependent on other peoples’ perceptions and experiences concerning ourselves.
In Nosedive, however, that inherent need is exploited in an unbashful manner and it overrides everything else. In this show episode, acceptance of others has become a sole purpose or key transcendent to all other walks of life.
In Keigo, it is a one-time affair to crowdsource other peoples’ perception and the user is the benefitting party. More power to the user. The user gets the mean score or profile and can take cue from there. Think of it this way. Your near and dear ones can, in a way, introduce you to a new acquaintance and that can help you break ice sooner and hit the ground running.
2. Who is gaining ground?
Cui bono?
All kinds of startups, these days, are making claims that they can solve evergreen issues of man. In Nosedive, it was quantification of all social contacts but, for example in dating scene, talking to (fill-in-name) embeds a promise that AI would eventually hook you up with The Right One. Or just think of Amazon and “Alexa”. In another film of same genre, Osmosis, things have gone even further. People allow AI physically into their brains by taking a pill.
See the discrepancy in all of this?
Keigo is different. Sure, there is a visual assessment, but you can mock it up, if you want and you do not have to ask for other peoples’ cross-evaluations. Other features are available nevertheless.
See how little Keigo asks, actively or passively, as of compared to output? How much it gives? We go even further. We insist on answers being in the user — not in the app or AI embedded in it. Hence, Keigo is a modern self-reflection tool, in the essence of it, aided by contemporary tech.
There is only one way, we could imagine, Keigo could be perceived as a slippery slope to some undesired outcome. That is the fact that Keigo can bring an “aided approach” into previously play-it-by-ear settings, but then again, people do prep before important meetings already, as we speak, at least in their minds. Always have and always will. It’s just that with Keigo you can do that a little better. On the whole, there is much more upside than downside.
Moreover, we are convinced that we are driving new kind of mutual understanding. In fact, we are bringing people back together.
Our customer turned into a friend and mentor, Teppo Kuisma, said it best: “Remember, it’s not about whether the results are actually 100% perfect, but the fact you are using this proves you are thinking about the difference among personalities”.
3. Grounded identity
Identities in Nosedive are flimsy. Everyone is having a “Dow Jones identity” as anytime their rating score can go up or down — very much like people living in this contemporary “gig economy” and SoMe World. Perhaps, even a broader generalization is in order: Market economy makes all of our identities flimsy. We are no different. For example, if no one was to read this piece, we would be slightly upset.
Traditionally you can mean many things by identity, but it usually always refers to something lasting or relatively durable. Establishing and maintaining an identity requires an element of mirroring or validation from others, but that is only a fraction of the story. We need other people, yet, at the end of the day, we still can and must make our own interpretations concerning ourselves independently — and everything else. It’s all in the head.
Problem of narcissism
50 % of narcissism has to do with discrepancy between “real self”, what we think of ourselves, and “ideal self”, what we would like to be, in ideal World. In Nosedive, the main character is looking for a new home. Real estate agent projects a hologram of her — or ideal self of her — into the house, kitchen area to be specific. She is actually seeing and living her ideal self in a post-purchase virtual environment. On the top of that, her ideal lover is also embedded into this projection and they embrace each other. Also, an objective of near 5.0 rating score is the ultimate “ideal self” in Nosedive. This is all about dream-like Pleasure Principle immersion in a Freudian sense.
Keigo is all about Reality Principle. People are free to have all kinds of ideals, aspirations, goals and dreams, but instead of some sort of a quick-fix virtual projection, Keigo only presents aid for real life change, which often only comes from dedication, hard-work and open mind. Or being slightly better with different kinds of people, incrementally. You establish “real self” with Keigo usage and “ideal self” is in your mind — providing energy or a “carrot” for your efforts.
The other 50 % of narcissism has to do with discrepancy between “real self” and “social self”. In other words, how you see yourself and how others see you. In Keigo, this is addressed by a 360-degree cross-evaluation option. It helps you to create and maintain a robust, realistic and compatible identity. The end result enhances one’s self-determination (“real self”). Power to the people!
In Nosedive people have lost their “true / real selves” and, as a result of it, their ability to cherish their personal self-determination. Instead, they are forced to this domain of social self and passive state of neediness, accordingly. People only have value and meaning in terms of their ability to give good ratings to a person. In a way, it is “customer is always right” turned into a fundamental religion.
Sum up. Keigo reduces negative narcissism. It reduces everything-for-me-now narcissism of ideal self, as it makes you practice delay of instant gratification. Keigo also reduces negative narcissism by helping to establish a built-to-last identity that is grounded on reality of other people and their perceptions and experiences, yet it also enhances person’s own desire — and right — for self-determination. Combining these two is one of the biggest riddles of life.
Keigo does not want to change you as a person.
Keigo just wants to help you to become a better version of yourself, by:
· Improved intuition
· Better mutual understanding
· Enhanced situational flexibility
We would love to hear your thoughts. Please download and pop us an email (info@keigo.app) to share your app experience with us.
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