Observed Signal · Aug 12, 2026 · Publication · Source: Storytelling Edge · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Creativity & Content Strategy Market: The Taste–Talent Gap in an Algorithm-Driven Age
This Substack essay, adapted from the author’s book Super Skill, examines the “taste–talent gap” described by Ira Glass: many beginners have strong taste but their early work falls short of it. The author argues that algorithmic recommendation systems and generative AI are making it harder for people to develop independent taste, while simultaneously flooding feeds with low-quality, AI-generated content. As a result, taste becomes rarer and more valuable. The essay recommends regaining agency through deliberate practices summarized by the TASTE acronym (Take back the wheel; Attune your taste; Study the masters; Try and fail; Embrace the gap), and uses examples from Ira Glass, David Sedaris, Quentin Tarantino, and others to show how study, community, and persistent work close the gap.
Discusses how algorithmic recommendation systems and generative AI change content discovery, taste development, and the value of curation—topics relevant to publishers, platforms, and content strategy but not an immediate platform policy or technical release.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- The essay is published on Substack and is adapted from the author’s book Super Skill: Why Storytelling Is the Superpower of the AI Age.
- The piece cites a 2009 Current TV interview in which Ira Glass explained the taste–talent gap in creative work.
- The author argues that social recommendation algorithms (notably Facebook’s News Feed and TikTok’s For You algorithm) and generative AI make it harder for people to develop independent taste.
- Dr. Eric Solomon (an AI researcher and former executive at YouTube, Spotify, Google, and Instagram) is described as an advisor to A.Team and founder of the consultancy Human OS.
- The essay cites a 2024 Harris poll finding that nearly half of teens say they wish TikTok and X never existed.
Connected Companies & Entities
8 Entities mappedMeta
Consumer internet platforms monetised through advertising, apps, subscriptions and VR.
Substack
Subscription publishing platform for independent creators and newsletter monetisation.
“First off, a huge thank you—I’m now a Substack bestseller!...”
Amazon
Global commerce, cloud, advertising and subscription platform company.
“Speaking of the book—this week’s essay is adapted from my new book Super Skill: Why Storytelling Is the Superpower of the AI Age....”
Spotify
Audio streaming platform with subscriptions, ads and creator tools.
“Eric was a high-powered executive at YouTube, Spotify, Google, and Instagram....”
YouTube
Video platform monetising audiences through ads, subscriptions and creator tools.
“Eric was a high-powered executive at YouTube, Spotify, Google, and Instagram....”
NPR
Public media publisher monetising journalism, podcasts, sponsorships and memberships.
“An acquaintance tipped him off to an unpaid internship for National Public Radio (NPR) doing promos, and he took it....”
Search, video, adtech and cloud giant within Alphabet.
“Eric was a high-powered executive at YouTube, Spotify, Google, and Instagram....”
Meta's visual social platform and advertising inventory business.
“Eric was a high-powered executive at YouTube, Spotify, Google, and Instagram....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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