sehroAug 31, 2024
Greg Stolze

@tess Yuuuup. I had this actual convo.

ME: So we shouldn't worry about Skynet?
MY FRIEND THE ALGO EXPERT: (laughs) No.
ME: But we should worry that an insurance algorithm might kill someone by denying them care.
MY FRIEND: (instantly serious) Oh yeah. That is definitely already happening.

Aug 30, 2024 at 8:45pmMastodon for Android
Show threadThe DoctorAug 31, 2024
@GregStolze @[email protected] I wish I could not confirm this.
Show threadMystery Babylon Aug 31, 2024
@drwho @GregStolze Seconding.
Show threadKevin Karhan Aug 31, 2024

@GregStolze @tess THIS is why a computer should never be allowed to make such a decision.

  • abbreviated (sadly fmr.) #IBM rule
Show threadGreg StolzeAug 31, 2024
@kkarhan @tess Picture me in choir robes shouting "preach!"
Show threademily dogmomAug 31, 2024
@GregStolze @tess absolutely already happening and has been for a long time. Have you read https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_Math_Destruction ?
Weapons of Math Destruction - Wikipedia

Show threadGreg StolzeAug 31, 2024
@nasamuffin @tess Nope, just deep my ear to the griund.
Show threadRiley S. FaelanSep 1, 2024

@GregStolze What if insurance algorithms start to randomly kill precisely the sort of people who would publicly criticise algorithms?

@tess

Show threadGreg StolzeSep 1, 2024

@riley @tess

With what weapon?

Snotty letters?

Show threadRiley S. FaelanSep 1, 2024

@GregStolze By waiting for an opportunity to arbitrarily deny life-saving medicine, or maybe sneakily manœuvring the victim to often visit doctors known to commonly make deadly mistakes? Insurance robots are actuarial machines, so if they should want to commit a murder, a stochastic one would appear to be right up their alley.

@tess