this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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Apparently a page from an internal IBM training manual. Some further attempts at source it

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[–] Croquette@sh.itjust.works 10 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

That's the neat thing, you can deny accountability by blaming the computer's decision

[–] InnerScientist@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

A COMPUTER CAN NEVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

THEREFORE A COMPUTER MUST ~~NEVER~~ MAKE ~~A~~ MANAGEMENT DECISIONs

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 24 points 10 hours ago

Since when are managers held accountable? Is this new?

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 6 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

The computer can't be held accountable, but the programmer and operator can.

I could go on a whole thing about mission rules and command decisions here, but I'm sick of typing for the day.

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

So when is Musk getting held accountable for making a literal US funded Nazi waifu bot

[–] percent@infosec.pub 1 points 5 hours ago

Lol what? I'm so out of the loop

[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 35 points 12 hours ago

Executives today:

This means if we put AI somewhere in our decision making, we can no longer be held accountable.

[–] sunbeam60@lemmy.one 6 points 8 hours ago

This endless separation into “managers” and “not managers” is so unproductive. Everyone manages something. That’s why you’re employed.

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 13 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

TBF Management can barely make any management decisions either...

[–] peaceful_world_view@lemmy.world 1 points 27 minutes ago

are are rarely held accountable.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 33 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Isn't that exactly why they do use them for management decisions?

[–] InputZero@lemmy.world 13 points 10 hours ago

Yup!

"I'm sorry but your contact is terminated because our management software designated your position as redundant and unnecessary. It wasn't our decision to let you go, but it was our decision to begin using that software and it was our decision to program it to try to fire as many employees as possible, but it's not our decision and therefore we can't be held responsible. Goodbye."

[–] Heikki2@lemmy.world 13 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

As a US citizen, this logic need to be applied to corperations. The C_Os make all the decisions for the company, the Campany should not be held as responsible for the shitty actions of its Board. The Board should be held accountable for the companies actions be required to served by all the C_Os. I say served, I mean fines and prison time ,in all cases, as a fine is paid personally by the person and time is served aslo bu the person.

I know fine are just a temporary for "legal fo .a price" fine should be paid to hut them so Retirement accounts are taken, future earning are taken, income from salary+bonus at time of infraction are taken, and close loops of off shore accounts

[–] Rooster326@programming.dev 2 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

Agreed except you better not touch my extremely meager retirement account for some shit the CEO did. I will go full uno bomber.

[–] Heikki2@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago

Thats where the legislation can put the lawyer talk in to address it is the personal accounts of the C_Os

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

You are essentially saying
"Management is essential, replace the common work force with AI"

Well...If I get fired, I will hold you accountable!

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

your logic is flawed.

employees can be held accountable for their actions.

[–] borth@sh.itjust.works 5 points 12 hours ago

But a computer works for "free" so "not being held accountable" is even better!!

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 11 points 18 hours ago

This is sad, not humorous

[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 97 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Managers aren’t being held accountable for their management decisions either.

“Oh, I sacked our entire workforce and sold all the company assets, so the figures will look amazing this month.”

“Oh, the figures are down this month, a golden handshake!? Thank you very much.”

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 3 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Most industries management fails upward. Definitely true in Pharma.

There are CEOs with a 20 year string of development failures, but they bring "vast experience".

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 4 points 12 hours ago

It depends, though.

There are cases where parts of a struggling company is worth less than the sum of its parts. At that point, the fiscally prudent option is to sell it off, either in one piece or multiple pieces. There are plenty of cases in American corporate history where the best option is to cut losses and leave a market.

That being said, I'm surprised that private equity is still allowed to be a thing given the massive disparity shown in how a lot of financial disparity in how a lot of private equity companies run their companies against their fiduciary responsibilities to their companies' stockholders and bondholders.

[–] ruuster13@lemmy.zip 151 points 1 day ago (1 children)

And when computers make all management decisions, let us not forget that managers told them to do so, lest we forget whom to hold accountable.

[–] Lodespawn@aussie.zone 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You know shit only flows downhill right?

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 93 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 13 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I think what they meant is nobody in management cares if someone wants to hold them accountable

Bit it's a nice picture, yeah

[–] scathliath@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I don't know, they all sure hate Luigi for some reason.

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 3 points 5 hours ago

Probably not fans of Nintendo or something

[–] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 80 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ah, from back when people still had critical thinking faculties in good working order.

[–] raman_klogius@ani.social 50 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Back when tech is still dominated by hippies and not fascists.

[–] thinkercharmercoderfarmer@slrpnk.net 23 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

This is as good an excuse as any to break out the ol' IBM corporate songbook

Tech has always been suits at the top, hippies at best an annoying necessity because they know how to actually operate the machine.

[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

"Back in the day", IBM was all suits the entire way up and down the ladder. They were considered the company for 1960/70s button down dress code.

The hippie types were at MIT hacking on DEC machines.

I think that's broadly true, but just because you work somewhere as oppressive as IBM doesn't mean you don't long to breathe the free air. I like to imagine some of the contributors to the IBM songbook felt trapped in their day job and grabbed at that as the only available creative outlet, and they had their own magnum opus that they were going to publish just as soon as they felt safe enough to take the leap. I can't find any credits for the songs so maybe they did.

[–] GrabtharsHammer@lemmy.world 52 points 1 day ago (1 children)
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[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 26 points 1 day ago

That's not how you would describe IBM at any point in its existence.

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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 57 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Reminds me of Woz’s old saying “Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window.”

I don't know, the smallest computer I have in operation is the sketchiest one.

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