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DraftKings is using AI to behaviorally target chronic gamblers

570 points · 432 comments · paimapi

  1. tedivm · · focus · HN ↗
    ProPublica had one of their reports work with gambling addition experts to see how DraftKings would respond to someone presenting signs of a gambling problem. It's a hell of a read, and makes it clear that this company is full of people with absolutely no ethics whatsoever.

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.propublica.org&#x2F;article&#x2F;draftkings-sports-gambling-problem-vip-fanduel" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.propublica.org&#x2F;article&#x2F;draftkings-sports-gamblin...

    1. WheelsAtLarge · · focus · HN ↗
      People in companies that are a negative public good are by definition unethical. I&#x27;m not surprised by anything they do. The real problem is how we&#x27;ve let these companies infiltrate so much of our society so fast. I can&#x27;t consume any ad supported media without getting some ad about them. This company really defines the phrase &quot;money talks&quot;
      1. taurath · · focus · HN ↗
        Our representatives both dem and republican (but slightly more Republican) have decided that the mountain of data that for profit companies have on is a benefit overall to the economy and we’re the guinea pigs for psychological experiments - the “American consumer” is the #1 commodity the US mines.
        1. xg15 · · focus · HN ↗
          Which would shed all those grand visions from tech tycoons about a fully UBI-financed &quot;pure consumer&quot; economy in a different light: &quot;We couldn&#x27;t care less about jobs, but guinea pigs - we need lots of those!&quot;
          1. lazide · · focus · HN ↗
            Jobs == costs.

            Guinea pigs == potential consumers&#x2F;revenue.

            Seems obvious?

            1. xg15 · · focus · HN ↗
              Not completely, in a scenario where the same companies would also finance UBI. But I guess &quot;UBI costs&quot; could be easier controlled than salaries.
              1. lazide · · focus · HN ↗
                Zero chance those same companies would fund UBI. Even the tech mogul brain trust never hinted that would happen. It was always ‘society’.
        2. N_Lens · · focus · HN ↗
          The cattle class!
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