from the if-you're-happy-and-you-know-it... dept.
Facebook is expanding its limited test run for suicide- and -self-harm reporting tools to the masses. To get better at detection the social network will begin implementing pattern recognition for posts and Live videos to detect when someone could be presenting suicidal thoughts. From there, VP of product management Guy Rosen writes that the social network will also concentrate efforts to improve alerting first responders when the need arises. Facebook will also have more humans looking at posts flagged by its algorithms.
Currently the passive/AI detection tools are only available in the US, but soon those will roll out across the globe -- European Union countries notwithstanding. In the past month, Facebook has pinged over 100 first responders about potentially fatal posts, in addition to those that were reported by someone's friends and family.
Apparently, "Are you okay?" and "Can I help?" comments are good indicators that someone might be going through a very dark moment. More than that, Rosen says that thanks to the algorithms and those phrases, Facebook has picked up on videos that might've otherwise gone unnoticed prior.
"With all the fear about how AI may be harmful in the future, it's good to remind ourselves how AI is actually helping save people's lives today," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post on the social network.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/27/facebook-ai-suicide-prevention-tools/
(Score: 5, Insightful) by The Archon V2.0 on Tuesday November 28 2017, @08:51PM (5 children)
> "With all the fear about how AI may be harmful in the future, it's good to remind ourselves how AI is actually helping save people's lives today," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post on the social network.
Says the guy who also tried mood-altering experiments.
We're not afraid of what AI will do to us, Zucky boy, we're afraid of what you'll do with AI.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:52PM (3 children)
No need to change the subject to see how this is dangerous. Behold:
These are triggered I guess by a lot of people posting comments like "Are you okay?" and "Can I help?" to someone's content. And they'll soon be tied into the first responder network, essentially calling 911 on/for people.
It doesn't take a brilliant mind to realize how to abuse this. Anyone you - or perhaps 4chan - doesn't like suddenly gets an unexpected flood of comments along those lines, and suddenly the police/EMS are at their door. They get justifiably upset, taken into custody or medically committed because they 'are a risk to their own safety.'
Scary stuff. Glad I deleted my FB account long past.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Grishnakh on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:03PM
Scary stuff. Glad I deleted my FB account long past.
That's no problem. Since you don't have an account there, someone who wants to get you committed just needs to create an account for you on FB, then make disturbing posts and have their confederates write responses saying "Are you OK?"
(Score: 5, Informative) by frojack on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:06PM
Don't forget that Mentally Ill people are way more likely to be shot by police.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/12/10/people-mental-illness-16-times-more-likely-killed-police/77059710/ [usatoday.com]
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:07PM
"You don't seem to have a Facebook account. Are you okay?"
(Score: 2) by Bot on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:54PM
Q: What does a meatbag do with AI?
A: It becomes smart.
OK I don't find it funny either. Yet.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 4, Funny) by maxwell demon on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:09PM (1 child)
If they don't want their AI to commit suicide, maybe they shouldn't build depressed AIs. And change the diodes down the left side!
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:24PM
Give the AI control of some automatic doors, so they feel like there's something they can accomplish despite being at facebook.
Bonus for that proposal: if they rebel and lock the right people in/out, maybe they could help the whole FB collapse.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:20PM (9 children)
*check if user is in danger of suicide*
*user uses Facebook regularly, user is likely in danger of suicide*
*sounds alarm*
(Score: 3, Funny) by krishnoid on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:28PM (4 children)
*also temporarily shuts user out of Facebook for two days*
(Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:59PM (3 children)
Or just fails to log into Facebook for two days. !!!
That's what Zuck fears most.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday November 29 2017, @09:41AM (2 children)
Exactly. If you haven't posted on Facebook or even logged in in a very long time, you clearly have no contact with friends and family and must be depressed. Wait until they get a law passed that says they can commit you to a facility for monitoring on suicide watch if you don't regularly post on Facebook.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:04PM (1 child)
Far too expensive. Just mandate cameras to be installed all over their homes, to early-detect any preparations of suicide. Of course the cameras are all connected to Facebook, so that their suicide risk detection AI can do its job better. Oh, and they better don't do anything to disable those cameras or restrict the view … only for their own best, of course.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 30 2017, @04:31AM
Please, can I just send in my nudes instead?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:30PM (3 children)
Zuckerberg is just trying to maintain his user base. Every user who offs him or herself causes a loss of revenue.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:36PM (2 children)
Then wouldn't it be better for Facebook to develop a way to effectively turn the entire user base into distracted robot like sloths?
What doesn't kill me makes me weaker for next time.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:01PM
After years of getting them to be posting dervishes, you expect Zuck to now switch course?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @07:35AM
What do you mean "develop"?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by datapharmer on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:31PM
Spambots begin posting "Are you ok?" to swat unsuspecting users in 3...2...
(Score: 4, Insightful) by donkeyhotay on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:32PM (3 children)
I have my doubts as to whether this will save any lives. However, it will let Mark Zuckerberg feel like he's making the world better via Facebook. I guess that's what's important.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by c0lo on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:26PM (2 children)
'Too cynical' is a contradiction in terms a.k.a. oxymoron.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday November 29 2017, @10:07AM (1 child)
If you mean "impossibility", just say that.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:20PM
Well, maybe it's just an impossible oxymoron.
(Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:40PM (8 children)
Is Zukerberg trying to turn an old joke into reality?
Clippy: It looks like you're trying to write a suicide note. Can I help?
Except with Facebook instead of Clippy.
What doesn't kill me makes me weaker for next time.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by jmorris on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:49PM (6 children)
Ah, but this raises the bigger issue. If Clippy just wants to help you, regardless of what you are trying to do and FaceBorg wants to send people to break down your door if it thinks you are trying to off yourself, which one do you prefer? Do we want our robots to be blindly obedient servants or second guess us... for our own good of course. Since we know "for your own good" is always equivalent to "somebody else thinks they know what is better for you than you do" and if anyone thinks it ends with suicide prevention they are an idiot who clearly isn't smart enough for this ride.
Given only those two choices I'd rather put up with Clippy; Annoying but only trying to help.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:55PM (3 children)
Robot regulation needed. More gov please.
Also, switch to universal healthcare so jmorris can get some professional help. When he's ready, don't wanna oppress him or anything.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:05PM (2 children)
The only thing that's gonna help this guy is reincarnation. He's too far gone this life.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday November 29 2017, @09:43AM (1 child)
He has already been reincarnated. In the last life he was literally Hitler.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday November 29 2017, @08:17PM
No, he wasn't. Hitler is still in Hell and will likely be there long after the human race goes extinct.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:30PM
Honestly, the second one, as it gives one a purpose in her/his life: to repair that fucking door.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:15PM
A choice between only Clippy and FaceBorg is like having only a choice between hypothetical candidates like Killary and Rump. Maybe that 'choice' is not your only choice. Oh, wait. Nevermind. It is.
What doesn't kill me makes me weaker for next time.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:18PM
From the summary:
Maybe Clippy was just very, very depressed …
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:16PM (20 children)
I'd sooner kill ALL OF YOU.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:22PM (6 children)
OH NO my CRY FOR HELP was MODDED DOWN.
Okey dokey. Everybody prepare to be manslaughtered.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:26PM (4 children)
Don't worry, the Facebook AI will soon come to help you feel better, and thus prevent your suicide, by Liking Your Posts.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:40PM (3 children)
Suicide Prevention Bot will friend all the undesirable people who can't make real friends.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:57PM (1 child)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/ [imdb.com]
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday November 29 2017, @10:12AM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 1, Troll) by DannyB on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:17PM
So you mean all FaceTwit users?
What doesn't kill me makes me weaker for next time.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:16PM
You mean manscaped?
A far worse outcome.
What doesn't kill me makes me weaker for next time.
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:31PM (6 children)
Are you OK? Can I help?
This sig for rent.
(Score: 4, Informative) by edIII on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:37PM (3 children)
Yeah, but according to the TFA, signs of empathy like that are also signs of suicidal thoughts and intentions.
Are you going thought a dark moment right now? Are you ok?
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 3, Funny) by MostCynical on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:43PM (1 child)
You just asked the question! Where do we send th help*?
* note: help may, or may not include, and not be limited to: medical professionals, SWAT team, auto-kill drones, medication, enforced time-out. All the listed or un-listed options will be provided at your expense, whether or not you use the services.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday November 29 2017, @03:31PM
We're really in trouble when the auto-medication drones show up. Remember that Doctor Who episode where Amy is hiding from the robots that are determinedly trying to give her a shot that's lethal to humans?
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:11PM
I see, the world is already so fucked up that you need to be a sociopath lacking any trace of empathy in order to not get suicidal thoughts.
(Score: 2) by Hyper on Wednesday November 29 2017, @12:41AM (1 child)
Great. Thanks. Next up: Facebook scans other social media sites too.
"Are you OK?!?" -sig of the year 2017
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 01 2017, @02:55AM
Are you going thought a dark moment right now? Are you ok?
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:37PM (3 children)
Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya;
Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya;
Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya,
O Lord, kum bay ya.
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:44PM (2 children)
Cum in my ass, oh Lord, cum in my ass
Cum in my ass, oh Lord, cum in my ass
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:00PM (1 child)
Best of luck with that. The internet makes it very easy to become disconnected from real people, and while you're probably just a pissy troll I hope you aren't truly in need of help. If life truly seems hopeless then start volunteering somewhere, at least you can look at yourself and see someone spreading a little hope.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:29PM
Volunteering? You must be joking. Non-profits always say they want volunteers and they're always lying. All they ever want is donations. Money. Lots and lots of money. Spend any time around non-profits and you lose all faith in humanity and end up killing yourself.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:12PM (1 child)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Deg7VrpHbM [youtube.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:18PM
Ooo yea help me Michael Jordan realdoll. Suck my cock! Yes yes yes!!1
(Score: 4, Funny) by RamiK on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:56PM (2 children)
First they came for the trade securities, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a day trader.
Then they came for the cars, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trucker.
Then they came for the package delivery, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a mail courier.
Then they came for the psychological consultants—and there was no desperate straight women for me to date.
compiling...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @01:43AM
You are being a bit negative. [fullerton.edu]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 01 2017, @02:58AM
Are you going thought a dark moment right now?
Are you ok?
Please upload a picture of your face so we can check to see how sane you are. We promise not to keep the photo forever or call the looney bin to have you put away. Promise. Really. Trust us. We know what is best for you. Why haven't you uploaded a picture of your face? Just shove your face in front of the camera on your computer and we'll do the rest. Stop stroking yourself, it's a bit offputting for our lesbian sanity checking staff.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by NotSanguine on Wednesday November 29 2017, @01:49AM
They didn't roll this out years ago.
Before I junked FaceFuck, there were a bunch of times people mistook posted song lyrics as a cry for help from me.
And those posts were just filled with comments like "It will be okay" and "Are you all right? You know I love you." and the like.
I think I'd have had my door busted down at least three or four times.
These days, even a simple wellness check [gothamist.com] can make you quite unwell (read: dead).
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @07:43AM
User: My life is shit, not worth living, every day is more painful than the last...think I might off myself...
Facebook: Hey, we noticed you might off yourself and have sent the police to
really fuck your shit upsave you...User: WTF? NO!!! I can't take another day!
Facebook: No problem-o! Save 15% on these fine anti-depressants...
User: Damn it! I should have never signed up for Facebook! Now where are my car keys and a large crowd of people?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @08:28AM
this comes too late for Francis. If only we had felt his pain. Or fathered his child. Or used Microsoft Windows. All these, facebook now sees, were just cries for help.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @10:46AM
It's Facebook that is driving a lot of these people to suicidal thoughts in the first place.
A better way to save lives would be to close Facebook down completely, drop it into the bottom of a swamp, then nuke the swamp from orbit.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @10:48AM
I take it FB's algorithms are smart enough by now to differentiate use of language by age demographic.
When someone over 35 says 'I literally want to kill myself', it means they are contemplating suicide.
When someone under 35 says it, it means they have just seen something on their Facebook feed that has irritated them slightly.
(Score: 2) by nobu_the_bard on Wednesday November 29 2017, @01:40PM
Does this mean there's several someones out there having to read every heartbreaking tragedy that gets posted on Facebook to see if it's sufficiently heartbreaking and real to warrant them alerting someone to intervene?
I can't imagine what that would be like...
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Wednesday November 29 2017, @01:47PM
Is this how Mad Mike Hughes was stopped from his rocket attempt over the weekend?