I think it's interesting to know, and certainly part of the pop-culture for the AI scene. So folks interested in AI might be interested even though they'll never join Google. The page also explains how the program works.

There's a link on the top of HN front page right now:

    There's a Persistent Hum in Windsor, Ontario

I'm actually not sure what percent is actually interested in those sort of articles, but oh well, they're there because the HN community has voted on them.