Dan Gillmor

As warned, Reddit has taken a bundle of money from "Open"AI and will use it to further monetize what you -- and the volunteers who moderate it all -- contributed for free.

It's the norm now, and particularly slimy in this case.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/16/24158529/reddit-openai-chatgpt-api-access-advertising

OpenAI strikes Reddit deal to train its AI on your posts

Reddit and OpenAI have signed an arrangement that makes the site’s posts available in ChatGPT and allows Reddit to build new tools using OpenAI’s models.

The Verge
May 16, 2024 at 11:15pmWeb
Show threadBrian SullivanMay 16, 2024
@dangillmor Isn't that the only way social media sites can make money ... to somehow monetize what users contribute? I am not sure how this is any different or more slimey than any other monetization.
Show threadMichael OrmsbyMay 16, 2024

@briansullivan @dangillmor Look at the history of reddit. There was a kind of equilibrium between users contributing content and moderators contributing time on one hand and the owners of reddit on the other. Users with very specialized interests like art or photography could find support and an enthusiastic community.

Then Steve Huffman decided he needed to make a lot of money. He started by forcing an app called Apollo off the site. Users rebelled and left, many deleting their content.

Show threadSquidAceBoiMay 17, 2024
@michaelormsby @briansullivan @dangillmor I was one of the people who left because of that debacle which was started based on Huffman’s greed.
Fuck u/spez, forever and always.
Show threadJames BrittMay 16, 2024

@briansullivan @dangillmor

Seems far sleazier than monetizing with ads or monetizing with features-for-pay.

Show threadBrian SullivanMay 17, 2024

@jamesbritt @dangillmor

So more sleazy than Facebook and Twitter?

Show threadCyMay 17, 2024
How about monetizing by selling your personal info to fascists for behavioral manipulation analysis? Paranoia inducing ads targeted at the emotionally vulnerable in order to throw elections? AI seems pretty small change compared to that.
Show threadAlexander The 1stMay 17, 2024

@cy @jamesbritt I guess one thing to note; the A.I. LLM approach here could be used to *generate* the paranoia inducing ads for behavioral manipulation analysis from fascists.

The problem with selling the personal information is that you can serve ads without necessarily selling the personal information the way they did.

Show threadCyMay 17, 2024
True, though there are no ethical ads. Advertisements that aren't dishonest, dangerously manipulative scams to steal money are just called news reporting.
Show threadAlexander The 1stMay 17, 2024

@cy I mean, the thing about that is that sometimes the *news* contains ads masquerading as news. See [ https://youtu.be/sIi_QS1tdFM?si=JRq1BuOquQyvskfO ] and [ https://youtu.be/E_F5GxCwizc?si=Vhxp3N61AIazDU9v ], for examples.

Some ads are more ethical than others, even if you argue all ads are unethical.

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YouTube
Show threadCyMay 18, 2024
I'd agree some ads are less unethical, but they're all unethical. Yes it's true if something is news, that doesn't necessarily mean it's ethical. What I'm saying is if something is ethical, then it's news.
Show threadAtzMay 17, 2024
@jamesbritt @briansullivan @dangillmor
Only because it's new. I think tracking me across unrelated sites to build a marketing profile of me and targeting ads at me is pretty damn sleezy.
Show threadJames BrittMay 17, 2024

@atzanteol @briansullivan @dangillmor

Yes. Some monetization schemes are just vile.

Show threadBrian SullivanMay 17, 2024

@jamesbritt @atzanteol @dangillmor

Implying that some aren't? Which ones are they?

Show threadBoltMay 17, 2024

@dangillmor If they want to use public data, they should be required to make the models, datasets, and research just as open.

For the exact same reason we should require that all medical studies funded with taxpayer dollars be freely accessible.

We can NEVER allow a company to buy out and effectively privatize the public information posted on the internet.

Show threadSeattleSwiftieMay 17, 2024
@dangillmor always interesting that even though this will be a long term solid revenue stream, it still just isn't enough to remove ads, or allow 3rd party apps. I left and went to #lemmy
Show threadGallen 🔜 Gdakon, EFMay 17, 2024
@dangillmor My personal site has already gone back to web 1.0; I think it's time we returned to forums and bulletin boards.
Show threadAdlangxMay 17, 2024

@dangillmor Reddit has sucked for awhile now. Even the smaller subs are bot filled.

Humans can't keep up with the pace of LLM disonfo.

Show threadSkyflareMay 17, 2024
@lightninhopkins @dangillmor Lol, it's going to be a top tier cannibalistic AI feast
Show threadAdlangxMay 17, 2024
@skyflare @dangillmor It already is. You can find posts with the exact same thread of comments fully formed from the get go.
Show threadTony NovakMay 17, 2024
@dangillmor It seems, from a casual observer’s perspective, that Reddit has risen in social media prominence more than any other platform lately, despite the criticism and controversy.
Show threadhuy31May 17, 2024
@dangillmor Good!
Show threadWeedkillerMay 17, 2024
@dangillmor Considering there are already ad companies offering “realistic” ai generated product review services throughout Reddit, this snake will eventually eat its tail.