Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST) #042 - Pedro Domingos - Ethics and Cancel Culture
Feb 11, 2021
Pedro Domingos, a renowned professor and author of "The Master Algorithm," dives deep into the contentious issues surrounding AI ethics and cancel culture. He critiques how cancel culture stifles necessary dialogue in machine learning, likening it to a modern form of religion. Domingos argues against ideologically driven gatekeeping in AI, cautioning that biases are often embedded in algorithmic design. He also questions the sincerity of current ethical practices in AI, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of fairness and open discourse.
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Cancel Culture as Cancer
- Pedro Domingos compares cancel culture to cancer, highlighting its organized structure and potential to harm its host.
- He emphasizes its cultural aspect, suggesting it's more dangerous than mere "restless children."
Wokeism's Religious Parallels
- Tim Scarfe notes religious elements in wokeism, with high priests and a seductive moral currency around victimhood.
- He raises the question if seeing societal events purely through power structures is reductionist.
Postmodernism in Academia
- During his PhD at UC Irvine, Pedro Domingos attended classes by postmodernists like Derrida and Lyotard.
- He spoke with students who admitted to feigning belief in postmodernist ideas for academic advancement.
