Ask HN: Did Google's AI run amok?

8 points by Irene 5 years ago | 4 comments

4 years ago I uploaded an unlisted video on youtube - video of a medical procedure, esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It did not have any views, I was keeping it just in case I need to show it to a doctor. Today I got an e-mail labeling it with adult content and warning about my channel (my other videos were of a Christmas tree and such, all unlisted). I changed video settings from unlisted to private and made it age-restricted - I understand that medicine is not for kids. I appealed since I wanted to help their AI (Remember Facebook's AI labeling a photo of onions for 'sexually suggestive' content?). I've just got another e-mail where they said that I lost my appeal, my videos are not safe and Youtube deleted them all. They said they'll forever label my content as age-restricted. Are we already in an Orwellian Dystopia?

st1x7 5 years ago |

> Did Google's AI run amok?

No, there's no AI in what you're talking about and it certainly isn't running amok. A classification algorithm flagged a video showing the inside of someone's body as not suitable for children. You could argue either that the algorithm made a mistake, or that the algorithm worked as expected and you disagree with youtube's policy on what is adult content.

> Are we already in an Orwellian Dystopia?

No, youtube aren't a government and they aren't forcing you to do anything, it would be weird if they were obliged to show any video that you upload regardless of the content. At worst, they're possibly giving you a bad user experience and poor customer service.

ignoranceprior 5 years ago |

YouTube's customer support is notoriously terrible, even for large channels. Good luck.

I'd recommend keeping a local copy of everything you upload just in case it gets deleted for some random reason.

Rzor 5 years ago |

Whatever you do, don't do it with your personal account. You will never get anything back once Google lock you out.

timmytwoshot 5 years ago |

I think we are.