I am open-minded to the idea that "Machine Learning" is conservative in the manner Doctorow describes. However, I do wish we would not use the word "conservati

I am open-minded to the idea that "Machine Learning" is conservative in the manner Doctorow describes. However, I do wish we would not use the word "conservative" as an epithet. I think it's quite likely that "conservative" is exactly what we should be looking for in algorithms and prediction engines. The fact that their properties are misused and infused with reactionary (not necessarily conservative) biases by humans should not make us attach morally negative properties to being conservative. FWIW, my conservatism leads me to be suspicious of employing these tools in the first place ...