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I like the analogy. Lets explore it a little. << You can already hack people by just telling them things. True, but language fluctuates, zeitgeist changes and

I like the analogy. Lets explore it a little. << You can already hack people by just telling them things. True, but language fluctuates, zeitgeist changes and while underlying techniques remain largely the same, what nationstate would not dream of being able to simply have people obey when it tells them to do behave in a particular way. Yes, you can regimen people through propaganda, but what if it you could do it more easily this way?

renewiltord 2y ago
Certainly people would like an API for others without needing to reverse engineer them. Agreed that there is a threshold of simplicity past which it becomes easier to organize than having to give speeches and run propaganda.
willy_k 2y ago
> True, but language fluctuates, zeitgeist changes and while underlying techniques remain largely the same This applies to software as well > Yes, you can regimen people through propaganda, but what if it you could do it more easily this way? Widespread use of BCIs would help with this for sure, but don’t be under the impression that individual and population level manipulation techniques haven’t progressed well past simple propaganda.
- A4ET8a8uTh0 2y ago
  << don’t be under the impression that individual and population level manipulation techniques haven’t progressed well past simple propaganda. I absolutely buy it based merely on the glimpse of the document from various whistleblowers over the years. At this point, I can only imagine how well oiled a machine it must be.
Terr_ 2y ago
To offer a contributory not-really-metaphor for viewing things: After a "grey goo" apocalypse covers the world in ruthlessly replicating nanobots, eventually there arise massive swarms of trillions of allied units that in turn develop hivemind intelligences, which attempt to influence and "hack" one-another. I am one of them, so are you, and I just made you think of something against--or at least without--your will.

renewiltord 2y ago

Certainly people would like an API for others without needing to reverse engineer them. Agreed that there is a threshold of simplicity past which it becomes easier to organize than having to give speeches and run propaganda.

willy_k 2y ago

> True, but language fluctuates, zeitgeist changes and while underlying techniques remain largely the same This applies to software as well > Yes, you can regimen people through propaganda, but what if it you could do it more easily this way? Widespread use of BCIs would help with this for sure, but don’t be under the impression that individual and population level manipulation techniques haven’t progressed well past simple propaganda.

A4ET8a8uTh0 2y ago
<< don’t be under the impression that individual and population level manipulation techniques haven’t progressed well past simple propaganda. I absolutely buy it based merely on the glimpse of the document from various whistleblowers over the years. At this point, I can only imagine how well oiled a machine it must be.

Terr_ 2y ago

To offer a contributory not-really-metaphor for viewing things: After a "grey goo" apocalypse covers the world in ruthlessly replicating nanobots, eventually there arise massive swarms of trillions of allied units that in turn develop hivemind intelligences, which attempt to influence and "hack" one-another. I am one of them, so are you, and I just made you think of something against--or at least without--your will.