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Submitted via IRC for Bytram
In the introduction to her new book, Hannah Fry points out something interesting about the phrase "Hello World." It's never been quite clear, she says, whether the phrase—which is frequently the entire output of a student's first computer program—is supposed to be attributed to the program, awakening for the first time, or to the programmer, announcing their triumphant first creation.
Perhaps for this reason, "Hello World" calls to mind a dialogue between human and machine, one which has never been more relevant than it is today. Her book, called Hello World, published in September, walks us through a rapidly computerizing world. Fry is both optimistic and excited—along with her Ph.D. students at the University of College, London, she has worked on many algorithms herself—and cautious. In conversation and in her book, she issues a call to arms: We need to make algorithms transparent, regulated, and forgiving of the flawed creatures that converse with them.
I reached her by telephone while she was on a book tour in New York City.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @08:33AM (9 children)
What is this "fda" going to do?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by c0lo on Monday November 19 2018, @10:08AM (6 children)
TFS:
The other way around, i.e. to protect the algos from the flawed creatures that converse with them, then we'd need an EPA for algorithms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by driverless on Monday November 19 2018, @10:26AM (2 children)
What about the pony? Shouldn't there be a pony in there as well? A pink one, with big sad eyes, and possibly wings. And glitter on its hooves.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday November 19 2018, @02:16PM (1 child)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @05:23PM
I can only throw in my support if we also have a plank for good dental hygiene, including a law requiring people to brush their teeth.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 19 2018, @10:33AM (1 child)
Yea, I read that but its nonsense. What exactly are they going to do? Also I skimmed that story and she says her favorite algo is "geoprofiling", so I dont think she knows much about algorithms.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DeathMonkey on Monday November 19 2018, @06:42PM
What exactly are they going to do?
More specifically, what are they going to do that NIST doesn't do already?
(Score: 2) by suburbanitemediocrity on Tuesday November 20 2018, @02:30AM
Department of Algorithms
(Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Monday November 19 2018, @12:24PM (1 child)
Prevent and slow advancement in programming, enhance the profitability of algorithm patents and patent trolling by making alternative algos illegal, increase hardware sales by making certain more efficient algos illegal, increase hiring of middleman and lawyers for regulatory reasons, make free software unaffordable by charging for certification and indemnity, the usual corruption.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday November 19 2018, @05:21PM
Open Source is the reason why this won't happen.
All the big businesses now use open source. So much so that Microsoft Loves Linux now, haven't you heard? We're talking Google, IBM, Oracle, Red Hat, SAP, Amazon, Netflix, and many others, including even Microsoft.
An attempt to make any of that open source illegal or have to pay a troll would draw response from the many other powerful interests who now use open source.
Open Source makes the world go around.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.