[HN Gopher] When Algorithms Rule, Values Can Wither
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When Algorithms Rule, Values Can Wither
Author : otoburb
Score : 9 points
Date : 2022-12-27 19:53 UTC (3 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (sloanreview.mit.edu)
(TXT) w3m dump (sloanreview.mit.edu)
| joe_the_user wrote:
| _Interest in the possibilities afforded by algorithms and big
| data continues to blossom as early adopters gain benefits from AI
| systems that automate decisions as varied as making customer
| recommendations, screening job applicants, detecting fraud, and
| optimizing logistical routes._
|
| No doubt optimizing logistical routes is a problem for algorithm
| and has been studied since, idk, mid 1920s? With the invention of
| linear programming? Or maybe later but much earlier than the
| current wave.
|
| In contrast, certain screen job applicants is done aggressively
| now, no doubt but there's not evidence imo that scanning does
| more than reduce interviewer workload.
|
| And product recommendations is one of those constantly talked-of
| and generally bullshitty applications that average person can
| verify the ineffectiveness of.
|
| I would perhaps say that algorithms today wind-up used _because_
| they allow the meta-corp act a blind juggernaut, that this is the
| primary advantage the approach has, with the secondary advantage
| being justifying that operation.
| 082349872349872 wrote:
| From The Onion I recently learned about psychopathy[0], one[1] of
| the constituents of which is _meanness_.
|
| > _Meanness entails deficient empathy, lack of affiliative
| capacity, contempt toward others, predatory exploitativeness, and
| empowerment through cruelty or destructiveness._
|
| I would not be surprised if any algorithm selected to be
| effective would wind up externalising its costs on others, hence
| displaying meanness.
|
| [0] https://www.theonion.com/things-all-cats-do-that-prove-
| they-...
|
| [1] the other aspects are _Disinhibition_ and _Boldness_.
| Comparing to Aristotle 's Virtues, do we have reasonable matches
| between: Boldness : excessive Fortitude
| Disinhibition : insufficient Temperance Meanness : Wisdom
| (knowing how to act for one's own benefit) without
| Justice (knowing how to act for everyone's benefit) ?
| hprotagonist wrote:
| _I don 't know how to communicate this, or even if it is
| possible. But the question of justice has concerned me greatly of
| late.
|
| And I say to any creature who may be listening, there can be no
| justice so long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an
| exercise in exceptions._
|
| -- Jean-Luc Picard
| wolverine876 wrote:
| I think the same may apply when people are trained and
| experienced in algorithms (and other technology) and not in
| values (and other aspects of humanities). The extreme corruption
| I perceive in SV could be, IMHO, partly a consequence.
|
| Most issues in SV, such as free speech, fraud, AI's impact on
| society, disinformation and misinformation, labor rights, the
| concentration of wealth and power, the role of government, mob
| rule online, narcissism and megalomania in leaders, the
| corruption of power, etc. etc. are mainly humanities issues. Many
| in technology have disparaged and avoided humanities education -
| itself an act of basic egocentric bias and a lack of skepticism -
| and it shows in the outcomes.
| echosha wrote:
| [dead]
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