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Apparently google has an Ethicist. Ctrl-F: Ad Huh. Zero mentions of the thing that manipulates people by design. I guess I don't blame him, because even wit

Apparently google has an Ethicist. Ctrl-F: Ad Huh. Zero mentions of the thing that manipulates people by design. I guess I don't blame him, because even with a blind spot to ads it would seem Google still doesn't give two shits about his input. He explicitly calls out a problem YouTube feature, which he certainly would have voiced internally before externally. And he doesn't work at Google anymore. Google must want results from ethicists the way tobacco companies of old wanted results from in-house scientists.

knowaveragejoe 10y ago
He mentions "thousands of other techniques" that exist, if you read the article. I'm sure advertising is a subset of those.
eric_h 10y ago
> Apparently google has an Ethicist. Well, had. From his bio snippet at the bottom: "Ex-Design Ethicist & Product Philosopher @ Google"
- nissimk 10y ago
  It sounded to me like a euphemism for hanging out on the roof waiting for your non compete agreement term to run out.
  - gohrt 10y ago
    I don't know that competition is so heavy in the technological ethics industry. Also, California.
  - pjlegato 10y ago
    Non-compete agreements are illegal in California. He was probably waiting for his stock options to vest.
tremon 10y ago
Apparently google has an Ethicist. I'm not sure if I should rejoice that Google has one, or be worried that Google has just one.
- angelbob 10y ago
  More than one. There was a British AI company they bought on condition of hiring an AI ethicist. So there's at least one other than the former Google ethicist who wrote this article.
brador 10y ago
Ads don't always manipulate, they can also inform. Lets say you're looking for a new headset and have a mental buy price. The ad shows you the set you want at the price you wanted. Click, buy, and no manipulation.
- majewsky 10y ago
  > no manipulation Because the ad is definitely a neutral source of information.
ypeterholmes 10y ago
Also no mention of politics, despite going on at length about the 'illusions of freedom'. Granted, going there would force an admission that the world just kinda works like this all around.

knowaveragejoe 10y ago

He mentions "thousands of other techniques" that exist, if you read the article. I'm sure advertising is a subset of those.

eric_h 10y ago

> Apparently google has an Ethicist. Well, had. From his bio snippet at the bottom: "Ex-Design Ethicist & Product Philosopher @ Google"

nissimk 10y ago
It sounded to me like a euphemism for hanging out on the roof waiting for your non compete agreement term to run out.
- gohrt 10y ago
  I don't know that competition is so heavy in the technological ethics industry. Also, California.
- pjlegato 10y ago
  Non-compete agreements are illegal in California. He was probably waiting for his stock options to vest.

tremon 10y ago

Apparently google has an Ethicist. I'm not sure if I should rejoice that Google has one, or be worried that Google has just one.

angelbob 10y ago
More than one. There was a British AI company they bought on condition of hiring an AI ethicist. So there's at least one other than the former Google ethicist who wrote this article.

brador 10y ago

Ads don't always manipulate, they can also inform. Lets say you're looking for a new headset and have a mental buy price. The ad shows you the set you want at the price you wanted. Click, buy, and no manipulation.

majewsky 10y ago
> no manipulation Because the ad is definitely a neutral source of information.

ypeterholmes 10y ago

Also no mention of politics, despite going on at length about the 'illusions of freedom'. Granted, going there would force an admission that the world just kinda works like this all around.