Your phone isn't secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing

> Even though these ad algorithms are not nearly perfect (try to pay attention to how often you are served ads that are entirely irrelevant to your interests), the simple fact that they are so eerily correct even some of the time is the real conspiracy here.

This could be intentional. Having too many accurate ads is having a bad effect, because you then enter the uncanny valley of noticing what the data collectors all know about you.

Amazon often tries to show me a dress store. I’m a guy, and I’ve never bought women’s clothing. On the surface, the ad makes no sense and is irrelevant—but what if I end up wanting to buy a dress for someone else? Then I might remember that Amazon dress shop.

This (or simple error) seems more likely to me than a conspiracy to appear less creepy, though I suppose all three could be in play.