Google fired an AI ethicist, and her former colleagues are up in arms
Google just can't help alienating large swaths of its employee base.
More than 1,530 (and counting) Google employees have signed an open letter decrying the company's summary firing of the prominent artificial intelligence expert, Dr. Timnit Gebru. Dr. Gebru announced her dismissal Wednesday, which followed an internal email she sent regarding the lack of women being hired at the company and an ongoing internal debate about one of her research papers.
"We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Dr. Timnit Gebru, who was terminated from her position as Staff Research Scientist and Co-Lead of Ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) team at Google, following unprecedented research censorship," reads the open letter. "We call on Google Research to strengthen its commitment to research integrity and to unequivocally commit to supporting research that honors the commitments made in Google's AI Principles."
When Dr. Gebru wrote that she'd been fired on Dec. 2, the news seemingly came as much as a surprise to her as it did to her now-former colleagues.
"I was fired by [Google AI senior vice president] @JeffDean for my email to Brain women and Allies," wrote Dr. Gebru on Dec. 2. "My corp account has been cutoff. So I've been immediately fired :-)"
Tweet may have been deleted
According to Bloomberg, prior to Dr. Gebru's firing, Google demanded the retraction of one of her submitted research papers. The report notes that the situation escalated when Dr. Gebru, who served as the co-lead of Google's artificial intelligence team, wanted an explanation. This request, combined with an email regarding Google's alleged failure to hire women over the course of the pandemic, are allegedly what led the company to fire Dr. Gebru.
"In an email to Dr. Gebru's team on the evening of December 2, 2020, Google executives claimed that she had chosen to resign," continues the open letter. "This is false."
Of course, Google has a different explanation. On Friday, Jeff Dean published his explanation for Dr. Gebru's firing. Notably, he characterizes her departure as a resignation — which Dr. Gebru disputes — and put the blame on the internal submission process of Dr. Gebru's research paper.
Tweet may have been deleted
"Unfortunately, this particular paper was only shared with a day's notice before its deadline — we require two weeks for this sort of review — and then instead of awaiting reviewer feedback, it was approved for submission and submitted."
Essentially, argued Dean, the problem with the paper was about what is and is not the correct process. On Friday, Dr. Gebru disputed this claim in a lengthy Twitter thread.
SEE ALSO: Why you should change your Google Meet background
Either way, it's clear where her former colleagues stand on the matter.
"This has become a matter of public concern," continues the open letter, "and there needs to be public accountability to ensure any trust in Google Research going forward."
Time will tell whether or not Google heeds the call.
-
25 Years Later: A Brief Analysis of GPU Processing EfficiencyApple starts production of new Mac Pro as it expands in Austin快评丨不做“菜”改做“锅”,预制菜赛道有了新玩法Bizarre nightThis shark lives for centuries. Scientists discover how it resists aging.Carl Vinson to arrive next Tuesday: Seoul蒙顶黄芽传统制作工艺进入省级非遗名录‘Modric, Lloris among Saudi targets’Nvidia GeForce Now Ultimate vs. New Graphics CardStay put while exploring the White House holiday decorations on Google Maps
下一篇:A Global Tour of Bakeries With Fascinating Histories
- ·Microwave technique recovers 87% of batteries' lithium in 15 minutes
- ·10 best tweets of the week
- ·'Blade Runner' blew his mind. Now this artist uses AI to explore human consciousness.
- ·Now we can talk treble: Guardiola
- ·Sinner vs. Michelsen 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- ·Rune, Haddad Maia win French Open epics
- ·Mourinho eyeing more European glory
- ·Moon leads Ahn in approval ratings by 3 percentage points: poll
- ·NYT Strands hints, answers for August 29
- ·Nadal faces 'five months recovery'
- ·Millions of Twitter and Facebook users may have had their personal information compromised
- ·Now we can talk treble: Guardiola
- ·How to unblock Xnxx for free
- ·North Korea slams new UN sanctions as an 'act of war'
- ·苹果丝瓜、橄榄球南瓜......快来围观和利农这些蔬菜新品种!
- ·After US warning, NK responds with threats
- ·A Barbie flip phone is here from HMD
- ·快评丨不做“菜”改做“锅”,预制菜赛道有了新玩法
- ·Another hydrogen transport powder emerges, promising double the density
- ·18 best tweets of the week, including $10 mode, Joseph Thee Stallion, and Gregor Samsa
- ·24 Museums Dedicated to Black History
- ·Diplomacy with US, China not a 'zero
- ·Bizarre night
- ·Fishing helped Altmaier down Sinner at French Open
- ·厚植精神文明沃土 培树司法文明新风
- ·MrBeast 'Squid Game' re
- ·When Are Next
- ·Rough dispatches from Fyre Festival sound like an Instagrammer's nightmare
- ·Inter win UCL final warm
- ·Fyre Festival subreddit accurately reflects the dumpster fire that is the real event
- ·Best tablet deals as of August 27
- ·Lyft cuts scooter service in several cities, lays off 20 people
- ·金窝银窝 有时真不如狗窝
- ·Victoria Justice's past pettiness towards Ariana Grande has become an incredible meme
- ·24 Museums Dedicated to Black History
- ·Korea's warships to have new missiles for ground targets