Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
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Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#2Direct link to the original blog post the new article is referencing: https://googlewalkout.medium.com/setting-the-record-straight...
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#3Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#4Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
This tweet [1], seems less like an ultimatum and more of asking for an explanation, which management does not seem willing to provide.
[1] https://twitter.com/timnitGebru/status/1334900391302098944
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#5Why would other employees be knowledgeable in the employment relationship between someone and a company? Unless the employees are in the direct management chain, or HR or something, aren't they just parroting what Timnit is claiming?
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#6Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
If someone says "if you don't fix this thing I will look for work elsewhere" that doesn't mean that you can say "I accept your resignation." If you want that person gone immediately, you have to fire them.
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#7Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
Yes.
But they said "we accept your resignation" without waiting to see if she'd follow through on the ultimatum, and without respecting her stated plan to work on an end date.
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#8Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
This tweet [1], seems less like an ultimatum and more of asking for an explanation, which management does not seem willing to provide. [1] https://twitter.com/timnitGebru/status/1334900391302098944
That's only the conditional part of the ultimatum, not the threat. (the "X" in "Do X, or I'll do Y").
The exact phrasing she used is (probably - IANA employment lawyer) very important. If she said something like "Do X, or I'll have to reconsider if I want to continue working here", that doesn't sound like an ultimatum. But if she said "Do X, or I'm going to quit on December 5th", then that definitely sounds like an ultimatum you're begging the company to take you up on.
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#9Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
This tweet [1], seems less like an ultimatum and more of asking for an explanation, which management does not seem willing to provide. [1] https://twitter.com/timnitGebru/status/1334900391302098944
That tweet is the "conditions" part of the ultimatum. The other part was the "consequences" if the conditions are not met (the consequences were that she would resign at a to-be-determined date).
Re: Google employees say AI researcher did not resign, despite what exec claims
#10Didn’t she gave an ultimatum? Do this or I resign? And they are like we can’t do this so we consider you terminated?
Yes. But they said "we accept your resignation" without waiting to see if she'd follow through on the ultimatum, and without respecting her stated plan to work on an end date.
When you put an ultimatum forward, you must expect being called on it and lose. She got called on it and lost. The least she could do is walk away with some honor and walk her talk. Not only she doesn't even seem to be able to do that, but she keeps playing victim...