News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on You probably don't need AI/ML. You can make do with well written SQL scripts. Parent comment

Re:You probably don't need AI/ML. You can make do with well ... by EGreg on Monday April 23, 2018 @02:03PM (#16905829)
I am not sure the Categorical Imperative rules out misleading people for their own good. If a win win result is highly likely the categorical imperative says it’s OK if you do it because if the whole world did it, things would become better!
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:You probably don't need AI/ML. You can make do with well ... by chongli on Monday April 23, 2018 @03:08PM (#16906435)
No, it's still using people as a means to an end. It's even wrong to lie to the murderer at the door. Kant himself addressed this in an essay titled: On The Supposed Right To Lie From Altruistic Motives[1].

[1] https://www.unc.edu/courses/2009spring/plcy/240/001/Kant.pdf

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:You probably don't need AI/ML. You can make do with well ... by gowld on Monday April 23, 2018 @04:10PM (#16906953)
Being Kantian doesn't mean being correct. It's not that hard to disagree with Kant's extreme hypothetical.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:You probably don't need AI/ML. You can make do with well ... by EGreg on Monday April 23, 2018 @04:05PM (#16906907)
Yes I am aware, however the categorical imperative by itself does not seem to rule out such lying.

“Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” — Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:You probably don't need AI/ML. You can make do with well ... by ric2b on Wednesday April 25, 2018 @02:49PM (#16924737)
But it's even better in the long run if inefficient companies consistently lose to the better ones, since it will lead to better allocation of capital.
[ Parent | on HN ]