This is a great idea for a casual AI chat, Tom. Thanks!
Of course, I wanted to try it right away. I was blogging for 18 years, during which time I periodically posted favorite playlists of various lengths; there are thousands of songs involved. But I don't have all of that in any form I can easily hand to the AI for analysis -- screen grabs, well, I'd have patience to grab maybe to do 4-5 of them. If I'd been more organized I'd have kept it all in a database or at least a spreadsheet, but...
I know AI (at least, Claude) can examine a single image if uploaded. I wonder if I could feed it the URL of, say, a public Google Photos album of mine -- in service of the same sort of "What does this all SAY?" question you asked about your playlists...
Short answer re: Google Photos -- it's not straightforward. The images themselves are not "visible" to Claude; under certain circumstances, it can see the thumbnails, but not the images themselves. Meta information is available.
I switched it up to try accessing a photo album of mine on a different site (SmugMug)... Think I'll write that up at length over the next couple days. As you said about Chat's analysis of your playlist: crazily insightful-seeming, wrapped in a certain amount of ego-gratifying prose. Loved trying it; thanks again for the push!
To accomplish the task at all, I had to try the Claude in Chrome browser extension (which is in beta, and swathed in security warnings). I just asked Claude if that tool recognizes the style guidelines in my profile.
Nope, or at least not yet:
"What the extension does carry over is your Claude.ai account login, so it knows who you are. But whether your claude.ai profile preferences (like 'tone down the enthusiasm') influence how Claude behaves inside the Chrome extension isn't documented as a supported feature. The extension appears to treat each session somewhat independently."
I don't have a playlist, so instead spent about a half-hour of constant typing up pretty much my favorite recordings. Chat GPT took 3 seconds to respond with approximately 1,150 words. A lot is sycophantic ass-kissery, tempered by astonishing, intimate awareness of why I listen to what I listen to.
Also of interest, I reviewed classical live performances and recordings for a time, and the Chat observations are spot on for how I valued or dismissed performances I covered.
I'm assuming you don't want my list and the 1,150 words, so here is the Chat's summary:
Your music taste is highly coherent and reflects a deep appreciation for:
Musical structure and craftsmanship
Rich harmony and melody
Emotion balanced with intelligence and discipline
Your classical preferences suggest you value:
formal architecture,
contrapuntal clarity,
emotionally serious works,
and thoughtful performances (especially Gould and historically informed recordings like Hogwood).
Your rock and pop selections strongly favor:
the “album era” of the late 1960s–70s,
sophisticated songwriting,
layered production,
strong musicianship,
and emotionally authentic music.
A major connecting thread across nearly all your choices—from Bach and Beethoven to the Beatles, Beach Boys, CSNY, Yes, and Fleetwood Mac—is a love of:
harmonic richness,
compositional depth,
and immersive listening experiences.
Overall, your list suggests someone who listens attentively, revisits music over time, values artistic ambition, and experiences music as something intellectually and emotionally meaningful rather than merely entertaining.
Curious, I asked a similar question. Too much credit given to my supposed diverse tastes and not enough to my inflated preferences for underdogs:
Here us the question and answer:
Would you tell me what my playlist says about me. Includes original cast recordings like Ragtime, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, A Doll’s Life, Touch and Onward Victoria. Also
Singer-songwriters like The Young Novelists, Rough and Tumble, Bassett, Shawna Caspi and David Zaitchek, Bombadils and Ellen Cherry.
ChatBox:
Your playlist reflects a rich and diverse taste in music, showcasing a blend of musical theater and contemporary folk influences. Here’s what it might say about you:
1. Appreciation for Storytelling: The inclusion of original cast recordings suggests you value storytelling through music. Shows like "Ragtime" and "A Doll’s Life" often tackle significant themes and narratives, indicating that you enjoy deep, meaningful content in your listening experience.
2. Emotional Depth: Many of the songs from musical theater are known for their emotional intensity and complex characters. This could suggest that you connect with music on an emotional level, appreciating songs that evoke feelings or provoke thought.
3. Support for Independent Artists: Your selection of singer-songwriters indicates a preference for authenticity and artistry. Artists like The Young Novelists and Shawna Caspi often bring personal narratives and unique perspectives to their music, reflecting a desire for originality and depth in your musical choices.
4. Eclectic Taste: The mix of genres—from musical theater to folk—shows that you enjoy a variety of musical styles and are open to different forms of artistic expression. This eclecticism may indicate a broad curiosity and a willingness to explore diverse cultural experiences.
5. Nostalgia and Reflection: Many of the songs and shows you’ve chosen have a nostalgic quality, perhaps indicating a fondness for history, memory, or personal reflection. This could point to a contemplative nature, where you enjoy revisiting past experiences through music.
Overall, your playlist suggests that you are a thoughtful, emotionally aware individual who values storytelling, authenticity, and diversity in music.
Here y'go, Tom. Thanks for the nudge!
https://johnesimpson.substack.com/p/claude-as-a-cultural-profiler
This is a great idea for a casual AI chat, Tom. Thanks!
Of course, I wanted to try it right away. I was blogging for 18 years, during which time I periodically posted favorite playlists of various lengths; there are thousands of songs involved. But I don't have all of that in any form I can easily hand to the AI for analysis -- screen grabs, well, I'd have patience to grab maybe to do 4-5 of them. If I'd been more organized I'd have kept it all in a database or at least a spreadsheet, but...
I know AI (at least, Claude) can examine a single image if uploaded. I wonder if I could feed it the URL of, say, a public Google Photos album of mine -- in service of the same sort of "What does this all SAY?" question you asked about your playlists...
Short answer re: Google Photos -- it's not straightforward. The images themselves are not "visible" to Claude; under certain circumstances, it can see the thumbnails, but not the images themselves. Meta information is available.
I switched it up to try accessing a photo album of mine on a different site (SmugMug)... Think I'll write that up at length over the next couple days. As you said about Chat's analysis of your playlist: crazily insightful-seeming, wrapped in a certain amount of ego-gratifying prose. Loved trying it; thanks again for the push!
Have you tried telling it to turn the flattery dial down?
Oh yeah. My very first style instruction -- after using it for about 15 minutes -- was, “Tone down the enthusiasm.” Instant improvement!
To accomplish the task at all, I had to try the Claude in Chrome browser extension (which is in beta, and swathed in security warnings). I just asked Claude if that tool recognizes the style guidelines in my profile.
Nope, or at least not yet:
"What the extension does carry over is your Claude.ai account login, so it knows who you are. But whether your claude.ai profile preferences (like 'tone down the enthusiasm') influence how Claude behaves inside the Chrome extension isn't documented as a supported feature. The extension appears to treat each session somewhat independently."
I don't have a playlist, so instead spent about a half-hour of constant typing up pretty much my favorite recordings. Chat GPT took 3 seconds to respond with approximately 1,150 words. A lot is sycophantic ass-kissery, tempered by astonishing, intimate awareness of why I listen to what I listen to.
Also of interest, I reviewed classical live performances and recordings for a time, and the Chat observations are spot on for how I valued or dismissed performances I covered.
I'm assuming you don't want my list and the 1,150 words, so here is the Chat's summary:
Your music taste is highly coherent and reflects a deep appreciation for:
Musical structure and craftsmanship
Rich harmony and melody
Emotion balanced with intelligence and discipline
Your classical preferences suggest you value:
formal architecture,
contrapuntal clarity,
emotionally serious works,
and thoughtful performances (especially Gould and historically informed recordings like Hogwood).
Your rock and pop selections strongly favor:
the “album era” of the late 1960s–70s,
sophisticated songwriting,
layered production,
strong musicianship,
and emotionally authentic music.
A major connecting thread across nearly all your choices—from Bach and Beethoven to the Beatles, Beach Boys, CSNY, Yes, and Fleetwood Mac—is a love of:
harmonic richness,
compositional depth,
and immersive listening experiences.
Overall, your list suggests someone who listens attentively, revisits music over time, values artistic ambition, and experiences music as something intellectually and emotionally meaningful rather than merely entertaining.
Looks like our musical topography is adjacent
Curious, I asked a similar question. Too much credit given to my supposed diverse tastes and not enough to my inflated preferences for underdogs:
Here us the question and answer:
Would you tell me what my playlist says about me. Includes original cast recordings like Ragtime, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, A Doll’s Life, Touch and Onward Victoria. Also
Singer-songwriters like The Young Novelists, Rough and Tumble, Bassett, Shawna Caspi and David Zaitchek, Bombadils and Ellen Cherry.
ChatBox:
Your playlist reflects a rich and diverse taste in music, showcasing a blend of musical theater and contemporary folk influences. Here’s what it might say about you:
1. Appreciation for Storytelling: The inclusion of original cast recordings suggests you value storytelling through music. Shows like "Ragtime" and "A Doll’s Life" often tackle significant themes and narratives, indicating that you enjoy deep, meaningful content in your listening experience.
2. Emotional Depth: Many of the songs from musical theater are known for their emotional intensity and complex characters. This could suggest that you connect with music on an emotional level, appreciating songs that evoke feelings or provoke thought.
3. Support for Independent Artists: Your selection of singer-songwriters indicates a preference for authenticity and artistry. Artists like The Young Novelists and Shawna Caspi often bring personal narratives and unique perspectives to their music, reflecting a desire for originality and depth in your musical choices.
4. Eclectic Taste: The mix of genres—from musical theater to folk—shows that you enjoy a variety of musical styles and are open to different forms of artistic expression. This eclecticism may indicate a broad curiosity and a willingness to explore diverse cultural experiences.
5. Nostalgia and Reflection: Many of the songs and shows you’ve chosen have a nostalgic quality, perhaps indicating a fondness for history, memory, or personal reflection. This could point to a contemplative nature, where you enjoy revisiting past experiences through music.
Overall, your playlist suggests that you are a thoughtful, emotionally aware individual who values storytelling, authenticity, and diversity in music.
Sounds about right, no?