> Is this a value judgement ... sounds like negative framing at least.
Yes it is a negative value judgement. I am not trolling or being
unnecessarily provocative. I think that, on balance, some technologies
are likely to make things worse. Not in general, but to specifically
counter the very aim they set out to solve.
> the human weakness, insecurity and disconnection is already there
I disagree with this. On several levels. Some people have different
abilities and personality for sure. But the insecurity and weakness I
speak of is societal (weak interpersonal relations in a single-serving
microwave meal culture), and is caused by precisely such
disconnecting technologies. This kind of technology creates less
incentives to develop human interpersonal skills and ultimately saps
confidence. The user learns to simulate confidence.
> I think it's good to be skeptical of instances of this kind of work
in terms of the details like how it respects the users privacy and
treats their data sensitively, and whether or not it's selling an
effective method,
I think it's important to be sceptical generally. That makes one a
good technologist and not merely an implementor of random ideas that
we do "because we can". All the things you mention are hot topics, and
I agree they need scrutiny. But there are wider and more complex
factors to remain sceptical of, such as the social impact of
technologies.
> but at least it's sort of aimed towards good.
I have great faith and optimism in human beings, these things are
always "aimed toward good". I make no judgements about the motives of
the developers (which I think is already a few steps more charitable
than some of the insinuations I've seen in comments). I'm getting
down-voted because I dare to commit a heresy of asking deeper questions.
> Also ad tech is the epitome of AI applications that ride on human
weakness ;)
That's true.