Hacker News

points by user43928 3 days ago | 0 comments

To me it seems like a term that users pessimistic about AI and the future apply to those with an optimistic opinion.

By speaking of boosting, they add an implication that the opinion isn't as genuine as their own and is perhaps motivated by some sort of financial benefit.

Am I wrong?

[–] oblio 3 days ago

Do you believe than an industry that's investing 1 trillion per year in infrastructure, isn't also investing tens of billions in marketing, including pseudo-grassroots movements aka astro turfing? They would be total idiots not to, and they're not.

[–] user43928 3 days ago

I've seen Moonshot pay creators on X for posting promotional messaging about Kimi K3.1 Pro, with the requirement not to disclose it as a paid sponsorship.

X then took action and suspended creator's accounts that were posting about Kimi K3.1 without the paid sponsorship tag, allegedly hitting some accounts that weren't paid by Moonshot.

In any case, I do not think that people are typically being paid to promote AI generally, rather than specific products.

To imply so on comments from well established HN users, as if it was unlikely they simply find value in AI and have a genuinely positive opinion, often seems misguided.

[–] Aurornis 3 days ago

The phrase “AI booster” isn’t used to accuse people of astroturfing.

It’s all over this thread as a pejorative for anyone who doesn’t have a cynical view of AI.

[–] beepbooptheory 2 days ago

If you don't have a cynical view about it, then why do you feel bad about being called a booster of it? Does it not describe your view? Or, if you are like not cynical but still like lukewarm, why do you feel targeted in the first place?

If everyone had the same opinions they do, but called it all "AI optimism", or whatever other term you prefer, would anything change for you?

This feeling you might have, where everyone is having a secret meeting without you, deciding on opinions and terms to operate against you, is understandable in this world, but you can't live forever in that solipsism. You need to be brave enough to have your own opinion against those that truly, passionately have their own. You need to argue and fight for what you believe in, not try to explain away or conspiratorialize your opponents. There is no one coordinated, arbitrary force you can point to that can explain why people don't share your worldview. You can just defend what you believe in, and always be ready to update your assumptions.

[–] paimapi 2 days ago

So what is your preferred noun phrase?

[–] dd8601fn 2 days ago

The more important question is, “Why do we care?”

It’s what everyone uses… positive, negative, or neutral.

Until something else catches on, there’s no reason to explain, apologize, or duel over it.

[–] Aurornis 2 days ago

I prefer that we discuss the people and situations for what they are, not reduce them to catchy phrases that lump people together and discard any nuance.

[–] pseudalopex 2 days ago

Booster means enthusiastic supporter. Not fake or paid.

[–] user43928 2 days ago

To me it suggests someone with an interest in promoting AI.

I'm an enthusiast when it comes to using AI to my benefit. I could care less about what others do, as long as it does not concern my work.

I think it would be strange if someone were to label me an 'AI booster', but maybe that's just how I feel.