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Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

breitbart.com

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Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#31

Post by jiojfdsal3 »

imustbeevil wrote: post #24
jiojfdsal3 wrote: post #20

"(00:54:33) An employee asks what Google is going to do about “misinformation” and “fake news” shared by “low-information voters.” Pichai responds by stating that “investments in machine learning and AI” are a “big opportunity” to fix the problem." Anyone find this disturbing? They're trying to use AI to manipulate what users 'should' see?

I've used the internet long enough to not want to spend another second reading a lie someone wrote a news article about.

I didn't have to read the article. I just watched the leaked video with my own eyes in its entirety.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#32

Post by jacquesm »

jessaustin wrote: post #28

Wow they get lots of comments over at Breitbart. 11k on TFA, 35k on a soundbite from Cher, 22k for some ridiculous complaint about Serena (hmmm, is this some sort of theme?), 3500 on some guy having a heart attack. Is this normal for partisan news sites? They need to figure out some way of monetizing those comments.

> They need to figure out some way of monetizing those comments.

The people funding those sites are cleaning up with the votes they've bought in this way. The comments are the monetization.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#33

Post by vernie »

jiojfdsal3 wrote: post #20

"(00:54:33) An employee asks what Google is going to do about “misinformation” and “fake news” shared by “low-information voters.” Pichai responds by stating that “investments in machine learning and AI” are a “big opportunity” to fix the problem." Anyone find this disturbing? They're trying to use AI to manipulate what users 'should' see?

Damn those scare quotes are really scary.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#34

Post by jarsin »

liftbigweights wrote: post #7

I see an hour old post on the frontpage with 6 votes. This story has more votes in less time and is not on the frontpage. I think this is a far more important news story than "The Known Known". Edit) So this tech related story is off-topic but the "known known" an explicitly political and off-topic post is not.

I submitted this way earlier today and got some message from the site I had never seen before that it was already submitted but it did not show it to me like it usually does, and it was nowhere to be found.

I think this guy got it through because he did not use the original Breitbart link.

My recent fox story about google got the silent ban as well.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#35

Post by gizmo686 »

jiojfdsal3 wrote: post #20

"(00:54:33) An employee asks what Google is going to do about “misinformation” and “fake news” shared by “low-information voters.” Pichai responds by stating that “investments in machine learning and AI” are a “big opportunity” to fix the problem." Anyone find this disturbing? They're trying to use AI to manipulate what users 'should' see?

That is literally what Google was founded on. Their core technology behind their initial success was pagerank, an algorithm whose sole purpose is to manipulate what people see. They have stayed dominant through a combination of market forces, and keeping their algorithm near (or, IMO at) the top of the market for generalized search [0], and have leveraged this competency in other markets (video, ads, etc).

Beyond just Google, this is an inevitable result of having any which resembles the internet we know today. The alternative is to go back to human gatekeepers. While it is arguable if human gatekeepers are better from a consumption standpoint, it is clear that they are worse from a production standpoint, as it massivly increases the barriers to publication.

[0] In actuality, I suspect that Google's "algorithm" involves a fair bit of "cheating" by having humans nudge the results. Political bias aside, I think not doing this would leave them too open to attack from other players in the market who do.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#36

Post by JohnBooty »

tcbawo wrote: post #6

Is it really surprising that a multinational company would have a preferred candidate? Although, I'm sure they lobbied extensively for all major candidates. It is interesting that both major parties seem to want to have their cake and eat it too when it comes to free speech, "common carrier", and antitrust issues.

Wanting to improve their news algorithm to favor more trustworthy sources is not a violation of free speech.

"Free speech" guarantees you the right to say what you want, as long as it doesn't interfere with others' freedoms (i.e., making death threats or yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater)

"Free speech" does not guarantee you a platform for your protected free speech. I have the right to claim blatantly false things; Google is absolutely not obligated to amplify my voice.

I am allowed to claim that Obama shot JFK. That does not mean that Google, you, or anybody else is obligated to help me spread that opinion.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#37

Post by magicalist »

mrschwabe wrote: post #15

For additional context, also note Eric Schmidt's consultant role which was revealed in HRC's leaked emails: https://qz.com/823922/eric-schmidt-played-a-crucial-role-in-... https://www.businessinsider.com/wikileaks-emails-google-eric... https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/37262

Wow, he advised them to make a smartphone app and to use the cloud instead of spinning up their own servers. What a scoop.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#39

Post by lanestp »

dang wrote: post #9
jsoc815 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't think it's allowed. I just tried to post it only to learn that someone else also tried; post is dead. Not surprised, but think it's a little weird because the leaking of the video seems like a point for discussion of something happening in the company, SV, etc., maybe? Maybe Dang (or someone other minder) will be kind enough to explain.

That site has been banned on HN for years. We're happy to make exceptions for specific cases where there's a substantive post, though, like this one.

I have to ask, why a site like Breitbart which has broken a lot of substantive stories would be banned? I’ve seen less credible left leaning sites on HN. I’m hoping there is a really good reason because right now I am concerned.

Re: Google’s first all-hands after 2016 election [video]

#40

Post by ihatethem »

dang wrote: post #17
ihatethem wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how private citizens discussing their political views is "substantive", there is nothing remotely controversial in that footage, this is just fodder for partisans.

You've repeatedly created accounts with a propaganda agenda for Google. You've been doing it for years. We've banned you before, and I've banned this account. Doing this is abusive regardless of what company you're promoting or what your motive is. Would you please stop? HN is for curious humans to exchange thoughts in community. Few things undermine curiosity or community more. We frequently ask users not to accuse…

I don't know what you're talking about.
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