this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024
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[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I mean yeah: if we went and killed every person who benefits from conflict diamonds and closed all blood diamond mines why wouldn't you be cool with using the resources? Their evil origin has little to do with their practical utility and if the original sin is expiated there's no reason not to?

Like yeah conflict diamonds have basically no purpose because we can make diamonds cheaper and better in labs but in a situation where there are more practical uses (cobalt, LLMs) once we cleanse the land of the sinners why wouldn't we use their ill gotten gains for good?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

But we're not "killing" every person who benefits, literally or figuratively. We're continuing to buy their diamonds (pay them in money and data) while they continue to mine (train new models, use copyrighted material).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Agreed.

But the entire point I'm making is there's nothing wrong with the diamonds, the problem is with the method and the people profiting from it.

You were saying the diamonds were not fine by dint of origin. I'm saying let's right the wrong and then use the diamonds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

It's not a perfect analogy, models ape the work of artists and take their jobs; it's like if the diamond was bloody, and as long as it existed, the miner's family not only didn't get compensated for the loss but we're also prevented from getting jobs themselves.

We're not righting the wrong, were making the wrongs even worse. At some point you have to just burn the whole thing down.

[–] Jtotheb 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Okay, so again, no new machine learning ever, unless you can prove it’s done without environmental impact or affecting peoples’ right to a dignified existence. That’s the wrong righted. That’s what you’re advocating. Am I misunderstanding?