Graduation assignment: Reliable and honest recommendations for web shops with AI

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, Algorithms, Big Data Technology, Design, Finance, IT, Management, US Healthcare Recruitment

Job Description

In many online shops you will see recommendations for an additional purchase when you make a purchase. These often do not match your interests due to bias errors in the recommendation engines. In this assignment you will build a mockup webshop that contains the most honest and appropriate recommendation engine possible and on which customers can give feedback.

Required interest(s)

• Big Data
• Algorithms
• Artificial Intelligence

What do you get

• A challenging graduation assignment
• €1000 reimbursement, €500 + lease car or €600 + living space
• Professional guidance
• Trainings aimed at your graduation trajectory
• Sparring with other graduates and colleagues
• Two vacation days per month

What you're going to do

• 35% Graduation research
• 40% Analyze, design, realize
• 25% Documentation

»

Trading platforms such as Bol.com or Amazon always show you a recommendation for subsequent purchases when you buy something. Other customers also bought… These recommendations are made by a recommendation engine , but these engines often have a preference for sales partners who, for example, have the largest turnover on the platform.

In AI we call such a preference bias . For you as a customer, such a preference is not always favorable and for the sales partner it is simply not fair. As a small party, you hardly have a chance of rising above the parapet. You probably also recognize another disadvantage of these recommendation engines : you get a tip to buy something, but you have already bought it a long time ago. Especially when your partner or a family member uses the same account as you, these types of pointless recommendations are not uncommon.

»

The assignment

You start this assignment with an investigation into the cause of these common bias errors in recommendation engines. You investigate whether anything is already known about this in the literature, and you also investigate existing algorithms that exist for this purpose. You then determine which algorithm works as fairly as possible.

After this, you build a mockup webshop that contains the fairest possible recommendation engine. An important feature that you must realize here is the ability as a customer to provide feedback on the recommendations. For example, I already have this product, or this is not relevant to me. The recommendation engine must learn from this to prevent these types of pointless recommendations for this and all other customers as best as possible. We also call this customer in the loop . 

What does Info Support offer you during your graduation period?

Naturally, we offer you an excellent package of graduation conditions with various options. Think about:

• Laptop, all necessary tools and development environments to successfully complete your assignment
• A graduation allowance where you can choose from:
• €1000 gross per month
• €500 gross per month + lease car with fuel card
• €600 gross per month + living space in Veenendaal

During your graduation internship you will be included in one of our business units. This way you immediately get a good idea of ​​the developments within our projects.

In addition, Info Support offers you:

• A challenging graduation assignment at a solid, growing and financially healthy company
• Professional and experienced guidance, hybrid working
• A graduation program including training, knowledge evenings, project visits, activities and team, unit and company outings
• Experimenting with new products and releases that are in the pre-release phase
• Sparring with other graduating students and collegial and passionate IT colleagues
• View of the IT Top Traineeship with permanent employment!

Over Info Support

Info Support is a specialist in custom software, data/AI solutions, management and training and active in the Finance, Industry, Agriculture, Food & Retail, Mobility & Public and Healthcare sectors. We offer solid and innovative solutions for complex and business-critical software issues. Our head offices are located in Veenendaal (NL) and Mechelen (BE). Info Support currently employs approximately 500 employees.