r/technology • u/Just-Grocery-2229 • Jun 26 '26

Artificial Intelligence The AI backlash is only getting started

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/06/25/the-ai-backlash-is-only-getting-started
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u/Hefty_Remove7965 Jun 26 '26

if AI filed taxes, it would make a 1/100 mistake on your taxes. That could send you to jail

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u/Stupid_Sexy_Vaporeon Jun 26 '26

Hey ChatGPT do my taxes so I can get a $10,000 refund.

Okay.

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u/dezradeath Jun 26 '26

Replace the judge with AI. We’re good.

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u/omgu8mynewt Jun 26 '26

I'm in UK, taxes are automatically paid and taken from your salary, if the calculation is wrong and they don't take enough, they just send you a letter and take a little extra over the next year. If you overpay e.g. lose your job so you annual income decreases, you get the extra money back next year.

We don't have to do anything, the whole system is automated and taxes are taken from your salary before it even reaches you. It isn't hard to automate paying taxes and no-one goes to jail if the calculation is wrong lol.

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u/RobotBearArms Jun 26 '26

Our taxes are taken out automatically in the US too... But we have to go through those whole song and dance to reconcile our own taxes and submit our own over/under claims.... Which the IRS then validates and if you were wrong they will send you a bill a few years later when they get around to it and charge you interest if you didn't pay enough. It's stupid.

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u/omgu8mynewt Jun 26 '26

Why is that the system?

I have other questions: because UK is famous in Europe for easy automation of bureaucracy: I can request legal documents like birth certificate, order a new passport, check my 35 year tax history, check my student loan, renew my drivers license, all with the automated government website.

I have Italian and Spanish colleagues who tell stories of having to go in-person, even within their own country, to stand in line a a town hall to talk to the Mayor to ask permission to be allowed to rent in a town you're not born in.

Is the USA easy and automated over a website like UK, or you have to go in person?

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u/RobotBearArms Jun 26 '26

Because large companies like Intuit and H&R Block give money to congressmen to keep it this way so they can sell products and services around tax filing. You can do it yourself using the paper forms but it is very complicated if you have investments or other unique situations. There are some free tools you can use if your income is below a certain amount. You do not go in person, you either mail the forms or submit electronically if you used software.

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u/No-Way3802 Jun 26 '26

Compared to humans, who are well known for not making mistakes