{"id":246606,"date":"2021-05-10T22:05:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T19:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/ai-diversity-groups-snub-future-funding-from-google-over-staff-treatment\/"},"modified":"2021-05-10T22:05:01","modified_gmt":"2021-05-10T19:05:01","slug":"ai-diversity-groups-snub-future-funding-from-google-over-staff-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/ai-diversity-groups-snub-future-funding-from-google-over-staff-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"#AI diversity groups snub future funding from Google over staff treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#AI diversity groups snub future funding from Google over staff treatment<\/strong>”
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Google\u2019s AI ethics drama has taken another twist. Three groups working to promote diversity in AI say they will no longer accept funding from the search giant after a series<\/a> of controversial firings at the company.<\/p>\n

Queer in AI, Black in AI, and Widening NLP cited the dismissals of\u00a0Timnit Gebru and Margaret, the former co-leads of Google\u2019s Ethical AI team, as well as recruiter April Christina Curley, as reasons for the decision.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0a joint statement<\/a>\u00a0issued on Monday,\u00a0<\/span>the groups said Google\u2019s actions\u00a0had \u201cinflicted tremendous harm\u201d and \u201cset a dangerous precedent for what type of research, advocacy, and retaliation is permissible in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Until Google addresses the harm they\u2019ve caused by undermining both inclusion and critical research, we are unable to reconcile Google\u2019s actions with our organizational missions.<\/span>We have therefore decided to end our sponsorship relationship with Google.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Gebru was sacked in December after a conflict over a research paper she co-authored about the dangers of large language models, which are crucial components of Google\u2019s search products.<\/p>\n

[Read:\u00a03 new technologies ecommerce brands can use to connect better with customers]<\/em><\/p>\n

Mitchell was fired three months later for reportedly using automated script<\/a>s to find emails showing mistreatment of Gebru, while Curley\u00a0says<\/a> she was terminated because the company was \u201ctired of hearing me call them out on their racist bullshit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The three groups said Gebru and Mitchell\u2019s exits had disrupted their lives and work, and also stymied the efforts of their former team. Curley\u2019s\u00a0departure, meanwhile, was described as \u201ca step backward in recruiting and creating inclusive workplaces for Black engineers in an industry where BIPOC are marginalized and undermined.\u201d<\/p>\n

The groups urged Google to make the changes necessary to promote research integrity and transparency, as well as allow research that is critical of the company\u2019s products.<\/p>\n

They also called for the tech giant \u201cto emphasize work that uplifts and hires diverse voices, honors ethical principles, and respects Indigenous and minority communities\u2019 data and sovereignty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

None of the organizations have previously rejected funding from a corporate sponsor. Wired reports<\/a> that Queer in AI received $20,000 from Google in the past year, while Widening NLP got $15,000.<\/p>\n

The trio joins a growing\u00a0number of individuals<\/a> and organizations<\/a> who have spurned funding from Google over the company\u2019s treatment of staff.<\/p>\n

Five months after Gebru\u2019s firing, the fallout continues to harm Google\u2019s reputation for AI research.<\/p>\n

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