An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor • Hacker News Board

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#41

Post by beager » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:33 PM UTC

jcadam wrote: post #23

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

Facebook recruiters seem more aggressive lately, perhaps they're starting to actually have trouble attracting top talent?

Perhaps, but if you notice that anecdotally, it may be that you and your network and becoming more experienced and therefore more attractive to Facebook.

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#42

Post by pesenti » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:33 PM UTC

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

I joined a year ago to lead the AI team (Yann is part of it but I am not answering for him here). It's a choice as I don't have to work any longer. Why am I there?

- I believe Facebook's products are good for the world. They have had an extremely positive impact on my family in particular.

- It is the one place where AI can have a really positive impact on the world.

- It's is the most talented set of people I have ever worked with. Not just the AI team but every single person I meet there.

- I believe in Zuck. Despite all the bashing, he is one of the most thoughtful and visionary leader I have worked for.

This said I don't agree with everything that the company has done. But Facebook is a place were you are free to disagree openly and so far my team and I have always been able to do what we considered the right thing to do.

[Edit: agreeing with the comments that I should have written "is one place" instead of "is the one place"]

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#43

Post by mtgx » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

I feel the same way about Carmack. Such wasted potential that could've been so much better used at a company like SpaceX or even one like Epic Games or Valve.

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#44

Post by ardy42 » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

l5870uoo9y wrote: post #22

It would be a dramatic change of decades of ideological, political and popular sentiment to start breaking up companies or tightly regulating them. I doubt it would happen.

> It would be a dramatic change of decades of ideological, political and popular sentiment to start breaking up companies or tightly regulating them. I doubt it would happen.

I think it will. It took a couple decades of dramatic change to get us here (in the 70s and 80s), and the pendulum is now swinging back (and probably has been for the last decade).

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#45

Post by ecshafer » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:43 PM UTC

paulsutter wrote: post #11

Its curious that the media is going to such great lengths to paint Facebook as villians. My own Facebook stream is travel photos, people saying gushy things about their spouse, plus a few people still obsessed with Trump. Harmless stuff. Our lives must be pretty cushy when this is one of the biggest dangers that we face.

This is one of the things that individual experience can vary a lot. My Facebook is maybe 30% racist rants, bashing liberals, and a call to arms against the government for taking away guns. Another 30% is people ranting about Trump and talk to about a communist revolution. 30% is memes. 10% is travel photos and news about lives.

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#46

Post by akhilcacharya » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:45 PM UTC

zozbot123 wrote: post #5

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

What's the alternative? Google? Baidu?

...or...Amazon?

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#47

Post by pul » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:49 PM UTC

pesenti wrote: post #42

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

I joined a year ago to lead the AI team (Yann is part of it but I am not answering for him here). It's a choice as I don't have to work any longer. Why am I there? - I believe Facebook's products are good for the world. They have had an extremely positive impact on my family in particular. - It is the one place where AI can have a really positive impact on the world. - It's is the most talented set of people I have e…

Could you elaborate on each of those four points? How did you come to these conclusions?

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#48

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:50 PM UTC

pesenti wrote: post #42

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

I joined a year ago to lead the AI team (Yann is part of it but I am not answering for him here). It's a choice as I don't have to work any longer. Why am I there? - I believe Facebook's products are good for the world. They have had an extremely positive impact on my family in particular. - It is the one place where AI can have a really positive impact on the world. - It's is the most talented set of people I have e…

[deleted]

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#49

Post by techelitism » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:53 PM UTC

pesenti wrote: post #42

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

I joined a year ago to lead the AI team (Yann is part of it but I am not answering for him here). It's a choice as I don't have to work any longer. Why am I there? - I believe Facebook's products are good for the world. They have had an extremely positive impact on my family in particular. - It is the one place where AI can have a really positive impact on the world. - It's is the most talented set of people I have e…

Can we cut the pretense and just admit it’s about the fact that you’re showered with money and the high prestige? No judgement, I’d do it if I was an elite too.

Re: An Anti-Facebook Manifesto, by an Early Facebook Investor

#50

Post by techelitism » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 4:55 PM UTC

x3tm wrote: post #2

What I struggle to understand is how could esteemed AI researchers like LeCun and many others work for such a company to give it even more powers and edge? How can they justify this as scientists? The huge influx of money into research (here AI, but could be anything in the future) combined with the disfunctions of academia is very troubling.

It’s because they get a lot of money. It’s that simple. I don’t know if people know how much facebookers make because if they did they’d start to riot.