HackerTube.dev

USENIX Security '18-Q: Why Do Keynote Speakers Keep Suggesting That Improving Security Is Possible?

USENIX · 203.6K views · 2018-08-16 · 51:22

Open on YouTube ↗

If playback is restricted in your region, try opening the original video. Use Mark watched to add it to your marked videos.

Overview

James Mickens's humorous USENIX Security keynote argues that improving security and trusting opaque technology like machine learning is far harder than the industry admits.

On Hacker News

HN considers it a classic, hilarious and sobering talk on ML inscrutability and tech hubris, often rewatched.

Recommended by 10 HN people across 10 months · HN mentions 2018–2026

Topics

Security & hackingSatire & parodyMachine learning & deep learning
Search by tags
james mickenssecuritymachine learninghumorkeynote

What people said

vizzier · 2026-01 · Strong recommendation

James Micken's talk from almost a decade ago now covers this stuff perfectly... [VIDEO] I re-watch it fairly often, and we just keep getting worse.

Read the original HN comment ↗
tomxor · 2024-07 · Strong recommendation

> ML models is most often inscrutable, with the consequence that decisions taken by ML models cannot be fathomed by human decision makers Yup, James Mickens planted this seed 6 years ago, well worth the watch, even if you already agree it's brilliant cathartic humour (the subject isn't really "security"). [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
jamesblonde · 2024-01 · Strong recommendation

Nearly all talks by James Mickens are a laugh a minute. The guy is the only computer science standup comedian I have ever encountered. He is also technically excellent. This one is a classic: [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗

Sources

Video by USENIX, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

HN summaries and labels may contain AI errors. HN dates refer to discussions, not video publication.

HN Library: HackerTube export (2026-10-31) and open-index/hacker-news. Upstream summaries and classifications may contain AI errors.

Views, duration and playback status refresh separately from the published catalog. When an update fails, existing data remains visible.

Selection checks
  • SaaS & AI candidates: Topic keywords do not match
  • Editor-approved picks: Editorial review is required

Rule matches identify candidates. They do not guarantee video quality or financial results.

About the library and its sources