AI profiling is evolving fast - and today's machine learning systems can infer your mood, personality, stress level, and even life events from tiny micro‑behaviours you barely notice: a pause, a scroll, a hesitation, a late‑night search. In this episode of AI Freaky Facts: Shocking Artificial Intelligence Stories, Steve explores how modern platforms quietly build psychological profiles from everyday digital behaviour - and what that means for AI ethics, privacy, influence, and the future of human‑machine interaction.

Topics Covered:

machine learning, AI ethics, artificial intelligence, surveillance technology, AI profiling, behavioural prediction, emotional detection, personality inference, psychographic targeting, algorithmic influence, automation, digital behaviour analysis, AI and privacy, personalization algorithms, algorithmic nudging, consumer behaviour, human‑machine interaction

References:

1. Psychographic Segmentation: The Complete Guide. Excellent plain-language explainer of how AI now builds real-time psychographic profiles.

https://www.spurnow.com/en/blogs/psychographic-segmentation

2. The Algorithm That Decides Who Votes

https://cambridgeanalytica.org/news/the-algorithm-that-decides-who-votes-how-tiktok-inherited-cambridge-analytica-s-voter-suppression-playbook-50323/

3. Netflix to unleash AI-powered mid-roll ads that adapt to your mood. Netflix’s AI will use pause/rewind/skip patterns to detect mood and serve personalised ads in real time.

https://webcraftingcode.com/news/netflix-to-launch-ai-mid-roll-ads-in-2026/

4. How Netflix Uses AI Recommendations to Make $1B.

https://agentiveaiq.com/blog/how-netflix-makes-1b-with-ai-recommendations

5. Meta Shares Insight Into Its Evolving AI-Powered Ad Targeting Process. Meta openly discusses how it uses behavioural history and engagement signals (now super-charged by AI).

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-outlines-evolving-ai-powered-ad-targeting-systems/805164/

6. Beyond Demographics: Why TikTok Marketers Need Psychographic Targeting In 2025.

https://marketingagent.blog/2025/11/10/beyond-demographics-why-tiktok-marketers-need-psychographic-targeting-in-2025/

7. How Social Media Behavior Reveals Psychographics.

​https://www.topanalyticstools.com/blog/social-media-behavior-psychographics/

8. Digital Phenotyping In Psychiatry: What Clinical Evidence Reveals In 2025. Accessible overview of how smartphones and wearables turn into mood/personality predictions.

https://globalrph.com/2025/12/digital-phenotyping-in-psychiatry-what-clinical-evidence-reveals-in-2025/

9. Leveraging AI to Predict and Prevent Employee Burnout.

https://www.cangrade.com/blog/talent-management/leveraging-ai-to-predict-and-prevent-employee-burnout/

10. Retail Dwell Time - the Route to Higher Spending. Cameras/sensors track dwell time, gaze, and movement to predict purchases in real time.

https://www.retailsensing.com/people-counting/retail-dwell-time-metric/

Music Credits:

1. "Dark Documentary Background Music" by Music_Unlimited.

https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-dark-documentary-background-music-465691/

Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/

2. "Edgy Cinematic Dark Pads – Futuristic Thriller Ambience" by DesiFreeMusic.

https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-edgy-cinematic-dark-pads-futuristic-thriller-ambience-447934/

Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/

3. "Inspiring Cinematic Ambient" by Lexin_Music.

https://pixabay.com/music/beautiful-plays-inspiring-cinematic-ambient-116199/

Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/

4. "GRRRRR-Feat-Jenna-Decker" by Tyler-Havlicek-Official.

https://pixabay.com/music/hard-rock-grrrrr-feat-jenna-decker-476310/

Free for use under the Pixabay license - https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/

This podcast is narrated by the host's own voice, powered by AI.