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by 5040 634 days ago
Sometimes it seems like problem-solving itself is being problematized as if solving problems wasn't an obvious good.
2 comments

Not everything presented as a problem is, in fact, a problem. A solution for something that is not broken, may even induce breakage.

Some not-problems, presented as though they are:

"How can we prevent the untimely eradication of Polio?"

"How can we prevent bot network operators from being unfairly excluded from online political discussions?"

"How can we enable context-and-content-unaware text generation mechanisms to propagate throughout society?"

Solving problems isn't an obvious good, or at least it shouldn't be. There are in fact bad problems.

For example, MKUltra tried to solve a problem: "How can I manipulate my fellow man?" That problem still exists today, and you bet AI is being employed to try to solve it.

History is littered with problems such as these.