Thread

DraftKings is using AI to behaviorally target chronic gamblers

570 points · 432 comments · paimapi

tedivm · 1790700196 · 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://www.propublica.org/article/draftkings-sports-gambling-problem-vip-fanduel" rel="nofollow">https://www.propublica.org/article/draftkings-sports-gamblin...
1. WheelsAtLarge · 1790703876 · focus · HN ↗
  People in companies that are a negative public good are by definition unethical. I'm not surprised by anything they do. The real problem is how we've let these companies infiltrate so much of our society so fast. I can't consume any ad supported media without getting some ad about them. This company really defines the phrase "money talks"
  1. m463 · 1790708972 · focus · HN ↗
    They're built on adtech, which people don't understand.
    You have many adtech online dossiers that are basically a virtual you, that can be poked, prodded and studied for interests and behaviors.
    for a very minimal look, maybe check out amazon "about you":
    <a href="https://www.amazon.com/slc/hub?useAiMode=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/slc/hub?useAiMode=1
    jen_h · 1790719335 · focus · HN ↗
    That wasn't really alarming to me, "Likely reads diverse literary fiction." Nice.
    But what _was_ alarming was this persistent banner on the page: "Your other AI assistants have learned about you. Bring that knowledge here for an even more personalized experience."
    Okay...so let's click *Import* and see what this is all about...
    Step 1: Copy [prompt](<a href="https://gist.github.com/jenh/dcad304585e23fccc50ac514bc3605c8" rel="nofollow">https://gist.github.com/jenh/dcad304585e23fccc50ac514bc3605c...).
    (!!!)
    Step 2: Log into your AI assistant and paste it in.
    (?!, okay, let's see what we get...)
    Step 3: Paste AI assistant's response. Submit the response from your AI assistant below. We will remember the information you share to improve your experience across Amazon services. *To protect your privacy, we may not save all of the information you submit.*
    How about...don't do this at all, or at the very least, please ask users to review the returned response for things they might not want to share with Amazon.
    What a strange, hokey, non-vetted, and privacy-violating feature...

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