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Unsealed Briefs in Authors’ Case v. Microsoft/OpenAI

631 points · 623 comments · papergirl

  1. cs702 · · focus · HN ↗
    The title is editorialized but conveys a key point made by the OP: Many execs at OpenAI knew that using the work of every author on earth without permission would be perceived as unethical, so execs were worried about this information getting attention in forums like HN. My understanding is that HN has millions of visitors who never log in, many of whom are highly educated individuals in positions of influence.
    1. caaqil · · focus · HN ↗

      [dead]

      1. natbennett · · focus · HN ↗
        It’s not unfalsifiable. Non-commenting Hacker News readers are observable by looking at the traffic that HN drives to other websites.
        1. bookofjoe · · focus · HN ↗
          Truth. When I cross-post something on my blog that gains traction on HN, a huge spike from HN dominating my traffic origins appears in my Blogger stats.
        2. caaqil · · focus · HN ↗
          > Non-commenting Hacker News readers are observable

          So: a) you can observe/measure the size/source of non-commenting HN readers from various proxies b) you can make claims about the intellectual status or influence of users not logged in to HN as an outsider

          It's obvious that a and b are orthogonal.

      2. shaky-carrousel · · focus · HN ↗
        Unfalsifiable like your observation. I guess that makes it a great observation too.
      3. anthonyIPH · · focus · HN ↗
        Surely server logs and married up with data tracking could prove it one way or the other, so not truly unfalsifiable. It doesn't sound like an unreasonable premise to me at least.
      4. sheumais · · focus · HN ↗
        I've been reading for months and made an account only a few days ago (though I am merely a lowly undergraduate with no influence).
        1. bookofjoe · · focus · HN ↗
          Albert Einstein and Kurt Gödel were once "lowly undergraduates with no influence."
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