Is this contest fraud?
https://ftxfuturefund.org/announcing-the-future-funds-ai-worldview-prize/
On the one hand, they try to present it as similar to the Netflix Prize, which was a real contest, with real rules, that paid out the full amount based on objective, measurable criteria. Basically they had software evaluate every entry, the highest score won, and everyone knew exactly what would get a higher score.
But it’s not like the Netflix prize. It’s not objective. They are going to pay attention to their friends, people with high social status, and people who are culturally similar to them. They judging is basically arbitrary and they will give money to whoever they feel like – or not – without explanation, transparency or accountability.
But they aren’t hiding that very well. They admitted it sort of openly in the contest rules. But they didn’t say it anything like my description. Their description will trick many people who think it’s much fairer, objective and unbiased than it is. Many people with essentially no chance will think they have a chance and do unpaid work. And they suppress dissent and calling them out for this on their forums while the forums lie that they are open to free speech – which is another element of potential fraud. People might think if there was a problem and anyone knew it, it would be criticized on their public forums, but that actually isn’t allowed (it’s allowed in limited ways by people with the right social status, right friends, or right culture fit, but not by e.g. me).
In summary, they present the contest as one thing, but actually admit it’s something quite different in the details and fine print section, but without directly and openly saying what it is.
So is the contest fraud or just a nasty, dirty, dishonest trick but if people are fooled that’s their own responsibility? How do you decide? What are the right criteria? To what extent may headlines be misleading if the fine print is less misleading?