Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I don't think that is actually a problem. For decades people have believed that computers can't be wrong. Why, now, suddenly, would it be worse if they believed the computer wasn't a computer?

The larger problem is cognitive offloading. The people for whom this is a problem were already not doing the cognitive work of verifying facts and forming their own opinions. Maybe they watched the news, read a Wikipedia article, or listened to a TEDtalk, but the results are the same: an opinion they felt confident in without a verified basis.

To the extent this is on 'steroids', it is because they see it as an expert (in everything) computer and because it is so much faster than watching a TED talk or reading a long form article.



It can also dispense agreeable confirmation on tap, with very little friction and hardly any chance of accidentally encountering something unexpected or challenging. Even TED talks occasionally have a point of view that isn't perfectly crafted for each hearer.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: