At the same time, it's hard for me to trust algorithmic recommendations. I don't trust them because I know they're from a computer, and I find it difficult to b

At the same time, it's hard for me to trust algorithmic recommendations. I don't trust them because I know they're from a computer, and I find it difficult to believe that a computer program can "know" who I am. Determining something that's likely to suit your tastes based on your browsing/buying/watching/reading/etc. habits isn't "knowing" you and doesn't require such a thing. I don't know if this is some sort of accidental anthropomorphism or what, but I've seen this in more than one place and it just doesn't follow.