The hottest Digital ethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

We're Losing the Battle Against AI

Writerly Things with Brooke Warner • 1924 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Impact Digital ethics
  1. The Authors Guild and Created by Humans are teaming up to fight against the risks AI poses to writers and their work. They want to find ways to make sure AI companies pay for the content they use.
  2. There’s a new badge for books that are 'human authored' to help readers know that real people created the content. This move emphasizes transparency and aims to distinguish between human and AI-generated works.
  3. Many in the writing community feel overwhelmed by the AI threat, but actions taken by organizations like the Authors Guild are small steps in a much larger battle for creative rights and standards in publishing.

The First Trialectic - "Can Computers Teach Us to Act in Good Faith?"

Heir to the Thought • 159 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Human-computer interaction Digital ethics Artificial Intelligence
  1. The Trialectic is a new debate format involving three speakers to encourage richer discussions. It shifts the focus from winning to collaborative learning, allowing participants to explore diverse perspectives.
  2. Computers cannot teach us directly about good faith, but they can influence how we understand and engage with it. They can help identify bad faith through structural guidelines and data-driven insights.
  3. Having open and honest conversations is essential for improving trust in discussions. Recognizing that communication is complex helps us navigate different interpretations and encourages understanding among participants.

The True Power of AI Deepfakes Is Not What You Think

The Algorithmic Bridge • 700 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Deepfakes Media Misinformation Digital ethics
  1. Deepfakes are good at expressing feelings, not just deceiving people. They often illustrate what we want to believe rather than just hiding the truth.
  2. People react to deepfakes based on their existing beliefs. If a fake aligns with what they already think, it can spread quickly, regardless of whether it's real or not.
  3. The real danger of deepfakes lies in how they can reinforce stubborn beliefs. They act as tools for expressing desires rather than just tools for deception.

OpenAI Cries Foul

Marcus on AI • 8655 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Intellectual Property Data Privacy Digital ethics Software Development
  1. DeepSeek might have broken OpenAI's rules by using their ideas without permission. This raises questions about respect for intellectual property in tech.
  2. OpenAI itself may have done similar things to other platforms and creators in the past. This situation highlights a double standard.
  3. There's a sense of irony in seeing OpenAI in a tough spot now, after it benefited from similar practices. It shows how karma can come back around.

Smash The Technopoly!

After Babel • 2052 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media theory Technology impact Digital ethics Youth culture Philosophy
  1. Many young people today feel negatively about smartphones and social media, with a large percentage wishing these technologies had never existed. This shows a growing anxiety about their impact on life.
  2. Neil Postman and Marshall McLuhan teach us that technology shapes our thoughts and behavior in ways we might not notice. The medium we use communicates messages that can change how we feel about ourselves and the world.
  3. We need to reclaim control over technology to protect our moral values. It's important to start discussing and setting limits on how we use digital tools to ensure they serve us, not the other way around.
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ChatGPT, at Age Two

Marcus on AI • 7074 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Innovation Data Digital ethics
  1. ChatGPT has been popular for two years, but many of the initial uses people expected, like taking over Google, haven't happened. Companies are not as impressed with its real-world results.
  2. Despite promises of improvement, ChatGPT still struggles with inaccuracies and generating false information. Users continue to experience 'hallucinations' where the AI makes things up.
  3. The investment in AI is huge, but the fundamental issues with reliability and factual accuracy haven't improved significantly. There's a call for new approaches to make AI more trustworthy.

Mostleastremarkablegate And The Nature Of Online Harassment

Astral Codex Ten • 6469 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Online behavior Social media Digital ethics Public Discourse
  1. Online harassment can take many forms and often feels overwhelming. It's important to recognize its impact on individuals.
  2. Communication and understanding are key in addressing these issues. Talking openly about experiences can help build a supportive community.
  3. Everyone can play a role in reducing online harassment. Being respectful and standing up for others can make a difference.

What if AI can already 'feel'?

State of the Future • 42 implied HN points • 23 Apr 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Robotics Computational Theory Digital ethics
  1. AI already has its own kind of 'body' based on digital processes, not physical sensations. This means that AI can experience things and develop understanding in ways that are different from humans.
  2. Wisdom isn't just about human experience; it's a set of skills that involves making good decisions from the information available. AI can potentially do this better by analyzing vast amounts of data without the limitations humans have.
  3. AI might create its own social hierarchies and status signals based on how efficiently they operate in their digital environment. These structures could be complex and different from human social dynamics, and we might not even notice them.

BIG OOF: Patreon is enabling an insane stalking campaign

Natalia Mitigates The Apocalypse • 353 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media Online Harassment Tech Platforms Content Moderation Digital ethics
  1. Stalking can happen to anyone, not just famous people, and tech companies like Patreon can inadvertently enable stalkers.
  2. Documenting and calling out instances of stalking and harassment can help raise awareness and hold tech companies accountable for their role.
  3. Coping strategies against online harassment include setting boundaries, exercising, practicing meditation, and using creativity to tell your story.

The CrowdTangle Shutdown: Yet Another Wake-Up Call for Social Media Transparency

3188 Labs • 6 HN points • 17 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Social media Data Privacy Digital ethics Information Flow AI Impact
  1. CrowdTangle was a tool that helped researchers and journalists track how information spread on social media. Its shutdown by Meta shows a lack of support for transparency.
  2. Social media algorithms often promote divisive content for profit, making it hard for regulators to step in. Without tools to understand these algorithms, it’s tough to address misinformation properly.
  3. There’s a growing need for better tools and processes to help people navigate social media. As we consume more online, it's crucial to be aware of the influences shaping our thoughts.

New newsletter, as suspicious of technology as ever

Technology, Environment, and Art • 39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Automation Content creation Digital ethics Technological Impact
  1. The author warns against AI and advocates for a cautious approach towards technology, believing AI is a significant danger to humanity
  2. Not all AI developments are beneficial; the author strongly objects to AI taking over creative tasks and emphasizes the importance of human connection over AI-driven efficiency
  3. The author calls for resistance against the advancement of AI, encouraging individuals to avoid AI tools and take a stand against the pervasive use of technology for the sake of genuine human interaction and creativity

Guest post: Do Androids Dream Of Electric Grief?

Reactionary Feminist • 9 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Mental health Digital ethics Cultural impact
  1. AI grief support tools are becoming popular. They can create avatars of deceased loved ones to help people cope with loss, but there's a debate about if they really help or just keep people in denial.
  2. Modern society tends to rush people through their grief. This pressure can make it harder for individuals to process their feelings and leads to unhealthy mourning experiences.
  3. Without traditional mourning rituals, people may struggle to find meaningful ways to grieve. Rituals can help offer structure and support during an emotionally challenging time.

What Happens When Deep Fakes Get Too Realistic?

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 39 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Deep fakes Blockchain Digital ethics
  1. Deep fake technology keeps improving and may soon create videos that are indistinguishable from reality, raising concerns about misinformation and manipulation.
  2. The rise of deep fakes adds complexity to the challenge of discerning truth from fiction, contributing to a post-truth era dominated by subjective realities.
  3. The potential consequences of flawless deep fake technology could escalate societal disarray, potentially leading to increased conflict and war.

The Hucksters & Scammers of Artificial Intelligence

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Scams Regulation Digital ethics Social Impact
  1. Scammers and hucksters in the field of Artificial Intelligence could hamper the progress of this vital technology for humanity.
  2. AI scams, frauds, and hucksters are not new and have been a part of human society for centuries, evolving with advancements in communication technologies.
  3. Regulations, international cooperation, and societal involvement are crucial in combating AI-related scams and ensuring responsible use of technology.

Taylor Swift AI-Porn is terrible

GOOD INTERNET • 20 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Deepfakes Online safety Regulation Digital ethics
  1. AI-generated porn poses serious threats to privacy and psychological well-being, especially for activists and teenage girls.
  2. The omnipresence of AI-created porn can subject women to constant surveillance and objectification by digital swarms.
  3. Easy access to AI tools for creating fake porn raises concerns about the spread of nonconsensual and harmful content.

Threat Model

Reboot • 21 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Privacy Security Internet Surveillance Digital ethics
  1. In the age of the internet, it's challenging to disappear in America due to the digital footprint left by basic needs like addresses, bank cards, and online accounts.
  2. There is a small community of tech-savvy individuals focused on extreme privacy, using specialized tools like privacy-focused operating systems, encrypted communication, and anonymous browsing.
  3. Extreme privacy can be isolating and exhausting, leading to a constant balance between the desire for privacy and the inherent risks and limitations of disappearing from the public eye.

The Artificial Intelligence Administration

The Andrew Thomas Arrow Living Blog • 1 HN point • 16 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Internet regulation AI Ethics Digital ethics
  1. The debate surrounds the need for an Artificial Intelligence Administration, similar to the FDA, to regulate AI development.
  2. One proposed solution is to create a sandbox environment for developers to test AI applications before release.
  3. Questions arise about how to balance AI automation, developer access, and the security implications of regulating AI on a global scale.

Self-terminating technology & the return of the Sacred, Tristan Harris

The Bigger Picture • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 20
🕹 Technology Social media Digital ethics Attention Economy Sensemaking Tech Addiction
  1. Technology giants profit from dividing us online but this model is self-terminating.
  2. Attention is a sacred space that needs careful reverence in the digital age to avoid further division.
  3. In a world of polarisation, a shared reality is crucial for addressing urgent global issues like climate change.