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> The algorithms are usually statistical which by definition makes them prejudiced. Okay, maybe they are "prejudiced" if by prejudiced we mean making decisions
by morgante 12y ago
> The algorithms are usually statistical which by definition makes them prejudiced.
Okay, maybe they are "prejudiced" if by prejudiced we mean making decisions based on statistical heuristics. I still don't see how that's a problem if they're rooted in fact.
> The algorithms can only be accurate to who you are, not what you want to become.
Actually, the best advertising is aspirational. It's easy to sell a fat guy a cake, but it's even better to sell him on the prospect of no longer being fat (ie. a gym membership).
- erroneousfunk 12y agoIt's a problem because it's illegal in many countries, including in the US. Whether you think it's morally justified or not isn't the problem -- the fact that it's illegal is. With these laws in mind, is an algorithm that says "people who tend to purchase cosmetics are better drivers" illegal? Is an algorithm that says "people who tend to purchase cocoa-butter-based skin creams tend to have worse driving records" illegal? Should their be some sort of test put in place for these algorithms to make sure they're giving out legally-okay results, just like government officials test the gas pumps to make sure they're pumping fairly? It really throws a wrench in the algorithm, because there are a million little unidentifiable things that are correlated one way or the other with race, gender, marital status, etc.