> How is that any different than a waiter working for a restaurant or cafe?
This is the sort of insensitive and short-sighted remark that gives HN a bad name.
In one job, you work with a group of people, answering to people. In the other, you work alone, answering to a computer. The computer doesn't care if today you have a headache, your mother died, your child needs to see a doctor, or customer XYZ is an asshole: you will only be compensated precisely for how productive you are at any given time. The computer won't make you favours and won't help you any differently on any given day. You will not get to know the computer better over time, you won't become friends and go out together, or collaborate on a new business. The computer won't invite you to his wedding or introduce you to his children.
It's weird that we have to be reminded of this, but there is no humanity in the relationship with an algorithm.
This is the sort of insensitive and short-sighted remark that gives HN a bad name.
In one job, you work with a group of people, answering to people. In the other, you work alone, answering to a computer. The computer doesn't care if today you have a headache, your mother died, your child needs to see a doctor, or customer XYZ is an asshole: you will only be compensated precisely for how productive you are at any given time. The computer won't make you favours and won't help you any differently on any given day. You will not get to know the computer better over time, you won't become friends and go out together, or collaborate on a new business. The computer won't invite you to his wedding or introduce you to his children.
It's weird that we have to be reminded of this, but there is no humanity in the relationship with an algorithm.