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posted by janrinok on Tuesday November 28 2017, @08:47PM   Printer-friendly
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/


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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:40PM (8 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:40PM (#602685) Journal

    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.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by jmorris on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:49PM (6 children)

    by jmorris (4844) on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:49PM (#602687)

    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)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 28 2017, @09:55PM (#602689)

      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)

        by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday November 28 2017, @10:05PM (#602695) Journal

        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)

          by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday November 29 2017, @09:43AM (#602903) Journal

          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

            by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday November 29 2017, @08:17PM (#603143) Journal

            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

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 28 2017, @11:30PM (#602745) Journal

      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?

      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

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:15PM (#602990) Journal

      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.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:18PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 29 2017, @02:18PM (#602994)

    Clippy: It looks like you're trying to write a suicide note. Can I help?

    From the summary:

    Apparently, "Are you okay?" and "Can I help?" comments are good indicators that someone might be going through a very dark moment.

    Maybe Clippy was just very, very depressed …