Software 'appointed to board' of venture capital firm

Hong Kong based venture capital fund Deep Knowledge Ventures (DKV) “has appointed VITAL, a machine learning program capable of making investment recommendations in the life science sector, to its board.” The firm says it partners with “top analytical companies utilizing machine learning and large panel of experts” to “... …

[Anonymous Coward]

Aging Analytics drops the association?

Who would want to be associated with such a scam?

[chuckufarley]

This takes data corruption to a whole new level.

[Mephistro]

I guess the only way to bribe VITAL will be with...

..." robo-sluts, and booze".

Just like human directors.

[Voland's right hand]

Re: I guess the only way to bribe VITAL will be with...

Electtttttttrrrrrricity... Even AC... Ffffff(t)...

For those who have not read Henry Kuttner "The Ego Machine", pick it up from Gutenberg and read it:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32108

[Destroy All Monsters]

MATCH FACTOR: 100%

"I need your boots, your clothes and your pension scheme!"

[Richard Taylor 2]

Re: MATCH FACTOR: 100%

Wot no sunglasses?

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: MATCH FACTOR: 100%

Only after the new swimming pool has been installed and the customer appropriately fleeced.

Then it's just like "Deal WIth It!" (Puts on sunglasses)

[Sir Barry]

HAL will be disappointed for missing out on the job.

[Anonymous Coward]

At least software is unlikely to be completely barking mad, unlike one of the directors of my last employer.

[Anonymous Coward]

You have

to see the behaviour of some of the 'analytic' software produced by a company I used to work with - nice graphics though.....

[John Smith 19]

"Ageing Analytics"

Does El Reg still do that "Codger on a skateboard" tee shirt?

So when things go titsup "It's the software what done it, honest."

[dan1980]

Ridiculous

I was going to post something witty and/or insightful but I can't think of anything so I'll go with snark.

This is a stunt and a fucking stupid one at that. Worse, it's an outright lie*. Not that they're fooling anyone (which brings us back to stupid) but even if the software could, legally, be a board member, what benefit would that bring to the company beyond what could be achieved by the more common practice of using such systems as input that the board will use?

I mean, how would this system help select and appoint a new CEO or discuss the annual budget or vote?

So yes, it's a marketing stunt but what, exactly, is the pitch? Is it that the system is smart enough to be a board member? Clearly not as that proposition is ridiculous. The only takeaway can be that the software is invaluable to the board, providing data and recommendations that can then be used by the actual board to help make their decisions.

If so then, well, duh, I suppose. Isn't that the whole point of the software in the first place?

* - As pointed out in the article, the software can't, legally, be a board member.

[Caaaptaaaain kick arse]

interesting but why a seat on the board

Perhaps they'll also do the same for the office microwave.

[chuckufarley]

Re: interesting but why a seat on the board

I think the tea pot has seniority.

[TopOnePercent]

All AI is vapourware until I can buy Talkie Toaster.