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493 points l0b0 | 1 comments | 19 Oct 24 23:39 UTC | HN request time: 1.028s | source

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alilleybrinker ◴[20 Oct 24 01:53 UTC] No.41892299[source]▶

Cathy O'Neil's "Weapons of Math Destruction" (2016, Penguin Random House) is a good companion to this concept, covering the "accountability sink" from the other side of those constructing or overseeing systems.

Cathy argues that the use of algorithm in some contexts permits a new scale of harmful and unaccountable systems that ought to be reigned in.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/241363/weapons-of-m...

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bigiain ◴[20 Oct 24 03:47 UTC] No.41892714[source]▶

>>41892299 #

Brings to mind old wisdom:

"A computer can never be held accountable, therefore a computer must never make a Management Decision." IBM presentation, 1979

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1. lifeisstillgood ◴[20 Oct 24 08:00 UTC] No.41893743[source]▶

>>41892714 #

Admittedly the context matters “we are trying to sell to Management, therefore let’s butter them up and tell them they make great decisions and they won’t get automated away” while the next page of the presentation says “we will Automate away 50% of the people Working for you saving globs of money for your next bonus”

IBM in 1979 was not doing anything different to 2024. They were just more relevant

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Accountability sinks