That's why it's important that the trolley company was established as a non-profit. And if it does take funding, investors' returns will be capped at 100x.

(...wait)

If you flip the switch then the trolley still proceeds and there’s still a 50% chance every human on the planet gets run over. You’re just not the one at the wheel.

Trolley problem:

- if you allow the trolley to proceed, it will kill the human race.

- if you flip the switch, it will divert to a passing siding that will avoid the safety group blocking the main track.

This is a state-sponsored global phenomenon, not a national one

Only if you buy the excuse why they are for-profit after years of non-profit.

They could only have stopped

> And you have a legal obligation to the shareholders to prevent that from happening at all costs.

I can't wait until this meme dies.

Setting aside my sibling comments dispelling the legality claim, it's still pretty dystopian (I'd like to use a stronger word but I won't) to consider "end human existance or bankrupt the shareholders" as the trolley problem. The answer should be (is) simple.

There is no such legal obligation. That's a myth the oligarchs have spread to preclude people from even imagining socially responsible corporations.

Sure, you might get fired if you try to put social responsibility or even just long term sustainability of the company above quarterly earnings/growth if your board isn't on board with it. But you won't go to jail.

> And you have a legal obligation to the shareholders to prevent that from happening at all costs.

No you don't. [0] It's very suspicious that this planted myth always pops up here and manages to become the top comment.

There is no trolley problem.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48975048

I honestly would love to understand — is this your mental model of what motivates the labs to move forward?