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AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

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Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#51

I'd say very little good can come from this. What would be an example of an "appropriate" use of this technology? Basically where it could excel is giving probabilistic prediction of "mental disorders" across a high volume of users. What is a good thing you would do with that? Advertising to suggest someone to get help, maybe?

The most likely good is in the ability to study the model itself to better understand mental disorders and therefore inform treatment, or in the ability to deploy something similar to monitor folks who are already clinical patients on an opt-in basis. I'd agree with you that the deployment of the model in almost any context re: observation of the general public is very unlikely to be beneficial.

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#52

I'd say very little good can come from this. What would be an example of an "appropriate" use of this technology? Basically where it could excel is giving probabilistic prediction of "mental disorders" across a high volume of users. What is a good thing you would do with that? Advertising to suggest someone to get help, maybe?

You could actually use it to counter bias in an existing system. Consider a real example from a prior coworker:

We lend money for mortgages to people based on legitimate criteria: FICO score, income, etc.

THEN, we use a model to see if we lend more/less money to African Ameicans at better/worse rates. If we see bias in this model, we make adjustments to the first model so that they are "treated fairly".

I've seen the same done on message boards where certain actions were more likely for men vs women - and the administration discovered they were accidentally awarding more points to men vs women. So they adjusted the points for different actions so women had an fair-ish chance at getting points

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#54

I'd say very little good can come from this. What would be an example of an "appropriate" use of this technology? Basically where it could excel is giving probabilistic prediction of "mental disorders" across a high volume of users. What is a good thing you would do with that? Advertising to suggest someone to get help, maybe?

Boundless good will come of it from the perspective of the people running the system. Just abandon the idea that the system exists to help you or make society better.

this sounds like a fantastic tool to use psychiatric diagnosis the way it's supposed to be used: as a science-shaped cudgel with which to beat inconvenient members of society.

Remember that time in living memory when homosexuality was in the DSM. Now picture that but with machine learning able to pick out the gay posters online.

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#55
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone needs to build a bot that posts boring, but socially acceptable content that won’t raise any red flags for potential employers.

I disagree. I happily include my personal site with quite some controversial articles (being my opinion at that time) on it in my resume. It works as a great filter for companies I wouldn't want to work for.

When you find yourself having to make a public apology for an old blog post in the future, you’re going to regret doing that. Or maybe a gen Z hacker that hasn’t been born yet will ransomware your business because you wrote an article today with a word that will become socially unacceptable in the future.

I have no delusions that my political opinions or writing style are original enough or convincing enough to change the world. So it’s all just risk for me. If I’m writing something on my blog, it’s probably a focused technical article with no politics and little to no humor.

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#56
post #50
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if the concern is abuse, i wouldn’t give it to gov

Right, because it's better to trust that analysis to FaceBook. Why they could even pop-up something suggesting you seek help.

i assume this is sarcasm which is unhelpful.

the original claim was to trust no one. my comment was the government should also not be trusted.

people put on such a front on social i wouldn’t trust any analysis. especially not health related

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#57
post #51

I'd say very little good can come from this. What would be an example of an "appropriate" use of this technology? Basically where it could excel is giving probabilistic prediction of "mental disorders" across a high volume of users. What is a good thing you would do with that? Advertising to suggest someone to get help, maybe?

The most likely good is in the ability to study the model itself to better understand mental disorders and therefore inform treatment, or in the ability to deploy something similar to monitor folks who are already clinical patients on an opt-in basis. I'd agree with you that the deployment of the model in almost any context re: observation of the general public is very unlikely to be beneficial.

[deleted]

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#58

I'd say very little good can come from this. What would be an example of an "appropriate" use of this technology? Basically where it could excel is giving probabilistic prediction of "mental disorders" across a high volume of users. What is a good thing you would do with that? Advertising to suggest someone to get help, maybe?

Dunno if it's too productive to fret over the appropriateness of computational-tools.

I mean, when it comes to stuff like mass-surveillance, we can debate the merits of having such a mass-surveillance infrastructure. But when it comes to simple calculatory tools, they're basically just thoughts -- thoughts that people can have even without AI, and presumably'll become increasingly well-developed over time.

Forward-facing ethical-frameworks should probably discount perceived scarcity of computation. This is, if we're talking ethics, presumably we ought to consider things under a presumption of ample cheap computing power, as that seems to be the direction we're going in.

In other words, it ought to become trivial for individuals to come up with better methodologies than this on a whim. And since it'll be so easy for most folks to think up (and implement) stuff like this on their own, there's little point in fretting over exploration of such things now. Rather, we presumably ought to regard stuff like this as mundane thinking.

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#59

I'd say very little good can come from this. What would be an example of an "appropriate" use of this technology? Basically where it could excel is giving probabilistic prediction of "mental disorders" across a high volume of users. What is a good thing you would do with that? Advertising to suggest someone to get help, maybe?

I could use it to see if I sound like a crazy person.

Re: AI Model Detects Mental Disorders Based on Web Posts

#60
This reminds me of phrenology because it's just as crazy and evil.

Yes, I did read the article as it's really short. I was about to say that I've been on the internet longer than this guy's been alive but... I am no longer sure that number in his name? refers to his age.

"Xiaobo Guo, Guarini ’24"

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