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Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

boringreport.org

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Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#11

Post by aquaVitae »

CSSer wrote: post #4

What I find most ironic about this is that rather than bringing users closer to the source of information it potentially pushes them farther away by adding an additional step to verification. I imagine you've considered this? How easy does your app make it to access the source article and author information, for example?

We readily make available the source article on both iOS app and website. We want to serve as the stepping stone for information about an event that would encourage people to seek out more.

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#12

Post by lumb63 »

This is a great concept! Thanks for sharing. I do have to wonder, though, if this is a Band-Aid over the problem of sensationalist reporting. Assuming there is a market for “boring” news (I think there is; I’d like to read it!), wouldn’t it be cheaper to pay journalists to write less exaggerative pieces in the first place?

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#13

Post by tikkun »

I'm generally excited about something I'm calling "English to English translation" - and this is a good example.

Previously translation has focused on going between languages.

I think there's just as much benefit to translating within a given language.

* Translate corporate speak to plain English.

* Translate passive aggressive to calm and peaceful.

* Translate sensationalist to neutral (like the OP).

* Translate implicit and heavy with subtext to direct and assertive.

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#15

Post by nsilvestri »

oatmeal1 wrote: post #2

I feel like the kind of person who would use Boring Report is also the kind of person who's brain is already discounting sensationalist titles and doesn't really need an app to do it for them. That being said, I'm all for trying things to make the news more measured and nuanced.

I disagree, as I think this would be useful to people with anxiety disorders who don't want to entirely disconnect from the news. Just because they may be able to logically identify articles and headlines as "sensationalist" doesn't mean their brain won't still kick off some uncomfortable physiological responses.

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#16

Post by tikkun »

tikkun wrote: post #13

I'm generally excited about something I'm calling "English to English translation" - and this is a good example. Previously translation has focused on going between languages. I think there's just as much benefit to translating within a given language. * Translate corporate speak to plain English. * Translate passive aggressive to calm and peaceful. * Translate sensationalist to neutral (like the OP). * Translate imp…

See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35256007

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#17

Post by micromacrofoot »

malcolmgreaves wrote: post #7

> In today's world, catchy headlines and articles often distract readers from the actual facts and relevant information. A reasonable premise! But easier said than done. I wonder how this app counteracts the hallucination and lying behavior of LLMs.* Would be pretty bad to trade off easier-to-decipher human bias and sensationalism for distorted truths and lies from an obfuscated sequence of dot products! * I assume t…

Usually it hallucinates when you're asking for information, in this case it's rewriting existing text, so it should be a little safer. When in doubt check another source, as with everything.

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#19

Post by yamazakiwi »

dubcanada wrote: post #3

What exactly does "desensationalize the news" mean? Is there any additional detail on what exactly it does?

What exactly does "What exactly does "desensationalize the news" mean?" mean?

I think what you're really saying is: "I'm less interested in the work this person did to make something cool; selfishly, I'd like to know if it follows my biases so I can judge it based on politics."

Or you're just curious how it works and haven't spent the effort trying it out, which is valid.

Re: Show HN: Boring Report, a news app that uses AI to desensationalize the news

#20

Post by solarkraft »

lumb63 wrote: post #12

This is a great concept! Thanks for sharing. I do have to wonder, though, if this is a Band-Aid over the problem of sensationalist reporting. Assuming there is a market for “boring” news (I think there is; I’d like to read it!), wouldn’t it be cheaper to pay journalists to write less exaggerative pieces in the first place?

There are boring news orgs, but how many are you subscribed to? How likely are others to find them?
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