Funny A.I. Mistakes

Something that happened today reminded me yet again that although Artificial Intelligence has come a long way, it still has a lot of imperfections.

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Most of us on the web have seen pages with automatically generated advertising on the side, which is supposed to be related to the other content on the page. Quite often the ads show something seemingly unrelated, based on some unimportant keyword buried in the text. Or, the ad can try to promote something that the article is speaking against, like an herbal supplement on a page warning of its dangers. Occasionally mildly funny.

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Next, there is the driving directions finder on places like Mapquest. Much of the time, the directions are reasonable, especially if you stick to the interstates. Often, there are some shortcuts that could be used to save a few miles. Sometimes though, the chosen path defies logic. Example: a few years ago, I requested Mapquest directions from Houston, TX to Abilene, TX. The nonstop highway route would be north on I45, then west on I20, total about 400 miles. Plus, there are many more direct routes available, if you don't mind slowing down through a few towns. The Mapquest directions, however, put the path through OKLAHOMA CITY, more than doubling the distance! Whhyyy?!?

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But today, something happened, and I don't yet have an explanation for it. I was searching IMDB for info on an old black & white movie that was being rerun on UHF. Night Train to Munich (1940) is an above average WWII movie, set in Europe when Germany was already on the march. It had obviously chosen its side, but it wasn't mindlessly propagandistic like a few set in that era.

Near the bottom of IMDB's info screen, there is a line which reads "If you like this title, we also recommend..." Can you guess what movies might be included in such a list? How about, oh, I don't know, maybe something with a related plot and style, like:

Casablanca?
To Have and Have Not?

No, that's too much to ask. So how about another WWII movie, like:

The Longest Day?
Battle of the Bulge?
Midway?
Stalag 13?
Tora Tora Tora?
Pearl Harbor?
Kelly's Heroes?

No, it wasn't a war movie either. Well then, maybe just a classic black & white film, perhaps:

Citizen Kane?
Metropolis?
Battleship Potemkin?
Nosferatu?
Modern Times?
Stagecoach?

No, not black & white either.

Nor a romance.

Nor a spy movie.

The IMDB recommendation was... Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (1999)

WHHHYYYYYY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


p.s. If you can think of a more unusual pairing, put it in the comments.