Woolly Notes

Perhaps the cruelest irony is that we’re traumatizing people to create the illusion of machine intelligence. The trauma inflicted on human moderators is justified by the promise of future AI systems that will not require human intervention. Yet, their development requires more human labor and often the sacrifice of workers’ mental health.

The exploitation of data workers is not a bug, it’s a systemic feature of the industry.

Because products are not neutral. They are opinions embedded in pixels – every button, every default—says something about what we believe people are for. About who our customers can become.

Behind almost every AI decision, a human is tasked with making the final call and bearing the burden of judgment — not some silicon-based savior.

However, current AI systems are nowhere near capable of understanding the nuances of human communication, let alone making complex ethical judgments about content. Sarcasm, cultural context and subtle forms of hate speech often slip through the cracks of even the most sophisticated algorithms.

The AI illusion distances users from the reality of content moderation, much like factory farming distances us from the treatment of egg-laying chickens. This collective willful ignorance allows exploitation to continue unchecked. The AI narrative is a smokescreen that obscures a deeply unethical labor practice that trades human well-being for a fa... See more

Believing you're lucky is different than being optimistic. Listening to David's podcast this morning, he mentioned how often successful people "expect good outcomes"

My team has asked grantees what they need “beyond the grant” through surveys and conversations. Grantees have consistently responded: 1) connections to other philanthropic organizations, 2) help with fundraising, and 3) access to speaking platforms so that they can reach the goals that are often dictated by foundations themselves. In other words, g... See more