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This topic, over the past couple of days, seems to me to have become fraught, polarised and argued to distraction and faction.

It's not a stretch to say that the world has a problem with discrimination, or that big personalities can rock the boat when they go against the grain. Or that corporates have interests to defend.

I'd like in this case, though - not to say that all the other factors aren't worthy of examination as subjects in their own right - to see this paper. The authors/collaborators are leaders in the field. There are legitimate concerns about AI/ML; the validity/reliability of data from which, nowadays, consequential outcomes are derived.

Please, let's ignore - at least for now - the corporate politics, the heat of the race/gender politics, the PR machines weighing in (look at all the news outlets grabbing this atm), and take a look at what the paper says. The right people (those in the field and qualified/able to do so) should be listened to.

As for the politics of this, and the posturing and politicising and agenda-building on all sides: that doesn't help.

AI and ML affect us all now. This is a trend. Let's at least expose the findings of acknowledged leaders in the field - let's see this study - before we descend into the sideshows of politics and factionalism. Please.

Edit to clarify: tl;dr - I've not seen/read this contested paper. Whatever its contents, I want to see them, and imo that is more important than the current controversy blizzard etc.



it's absurd to want to wave away stuff like "race/gender politics" when the impact of that "politics" is overwhelmingly obvious in the field.


Sorry for not being clear. My only point is that I would like to see the research paper. I respect acknowledged and qualified domain expertise. It's an education for people like me, non-academics and not domain experts (but working with some ML/AI stuff). I want to see the thoughts and discoveries and recommendations and cautions and all that - from people who know their stuff.

The rest, to me, is a distraction. This specialist/academic, has a really good rep. I care not about character or friendliness or whatever. As a brain, this person is documented as having the chops. I want to see the report.




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