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Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

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Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#131

Post by alexasmyths »

RAB1138 wrote: post #30
dontreact wrote: post #2

Even if the aims are benevolent, the naming and marketing copy just sound evil to me. They are trying to make it sound like they can turn your app into an addictive drug.

Contrarian, not evil, is more of the motto. You don't get anyone to listen if you just talk about an AI SaaS platform for long-term habit formation. It comes off as wonkish. Trust me, we tried ;)

I don't know if 'Contrarian' is exactly the word - but yes - the company name 'Dopamine' is definitely a smarty-pants branding strategy to get hype.

Startups are dead -> they're all rock bands now.

VC's are record labels.

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#132

Post by s17n »

cgmg wrote: post #62
s17n wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's great but what is really needed is litigation/legislation.

Why? On what basis?

Because the industry is deliberately creating addictive products that happen to be detrimental to the health of the people who use them. Facebook is the biggest offender but any time you hear the term "engagement", that's probably what is going on.

This isn't just going to go away, it has to be fought.

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#135

Post by mmayberry »

IanCal wrote: post #100
_0ffh wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Behavior shaping isn't necessarily morally wrong to use," as long as we are talking about parents shaping their children, or the justice system (re-)shaping criminal offenders. Beyond that border, in my mind this becomes very unethical indeed!

Why not people wanting to shape their own behaviour? Nudges to exercise more from an exercise app I've installed is hardly diabolical.

you are correct. there is nothing wrong with giving humans the tools they want/need to be the better versions of themselves.

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#136

Post by tdaltonc »

RangerScience wrote: post #53
RAB1138 wrote: post #28

Hi! Founder (Brown) here. Appreciate the traffic! Also, would love to clear up mob misconceptions about: -Why did we pick lightening-rod branding? -Why was this the most humanitarian use of a neuroscience MS/PhD? -What quality of people must we be to do this? -What is design's ethical imperative that, 100 years ago when most died of infections diseases, that this year the majority of people over 50 will die of strong…

Are you hiring?

Yup.

https://angel.co/dopamine-1/jobs

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#137

Post by taneq »

nerdponx wrote: post #105
taneq wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK but who do you think is worse, Voldemort or Umbridge?

People are downvoting you, but I think you actually make a good point here. I'm just not sure which one is which. Is Dopamine Voldemort or Umbridge?

In this context, Voldemort. They're clearly embracing the role and even playing it for publicity, like a classic villain going "muahaha!" about their evil plan.

Contrast the new 'social credit' system in China - it's (IMO) pure evil and a disturbing example of government mind control, but presents itself as orderly virtue.

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#138

Post by Grangar »

tdaltonc wrote: post #124
dontreact wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well first of all thank you for your reply and actually getting involved in the thread. I have to say, I'm not convinced. Yes of course if you say that your product is similar to a what a drug dealer would offer, then people are going to get interested because of the potential for returns on their money. You're just confirming my suspicion that branding things this way was in order to help get investment. I don't see…

I think that the thing we're contrarian on is "using software to design peoples behavior is bad," or "Dopamine (the molecule) is first and foremost about Addiction." Dopamine is about learning, and learning only matter because it changes us. The same brain mechanisms and technologies that make facebook captivating and can be used to make fitness, a good diet, and spending time with people who love you engaging too. W…

So what would ensure you keep using that tech for good? What if no clients turn up and you still need to produce value for your investors?

In other words, how would you go about solving the 'just trust us' problem others in this thread have described better?

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#139

Post by sitkack »

RAB1138 wrote: post #35
sitkack wrote: post #22

Hire these guys for TV! I wish them success, all the big players are doing the same thing with more people. Keep on innovating, disrupting. Here is to your next cache hit.

I tried to emoji fistbump you here, but HN won't let me.

https://www.google.com/search?q=emoji+fistbump

Thanks man!

1138 is one of my favorite documentaries about the future. There are a lot of naysayers around here, but only because of the high fidelity mirror you present them with. It is only their own self loathing.

Re: Dopamine: An AI platform for designing human behavior

#140

Post by sitkack »

nerdponx wrote: post #55
RAB1138 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Happy to answer any questions you have! It's all of our job to be transparent about the new tablestakes of design, because that transparency builds exact dialogues like this! It would be more audacious if we didn't publicize what we're doing and these techniques remained the dark patterns that keep people hooked to social apps that have poor alignment to what people actually want out of life!

This is how I understand what you're saying: We are building something evil and reprehensible, but we are open about what we are building, and therefore we are better than the other guys who are doing it surreptitiously. Fine, but in that case your product is basically performance art. Bravo, you did a good job raising awareness: now go actually work on fixing the problem instead of pretending like you aren't part of…

> We are building something evil and reprehensible, but we are open about what we are building, and therefore we are better than the other guys who are doing it surreptitiously.

This basically covers all of American business and politics. I think the anger in this thread is misplaced.

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