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A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

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Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#21

Post by tablespoon »

alksjdalkj wrote: post #13

I respect the gesture but I think it would be more useful if accompanied with some plan of action for improving the current state of ethics in CS. It's a field-wide problem, not a Google specific problem. Also, let's be clear here on who bears the brunt of these actions - when a lab is short on funding, it's the grad students who lose out first. Vijay tweeted as much, saying he'd rather his grad students need to TA a…

> I respect the gesture but I think it would be more useful if accompanied with some plan of action for improving the current state of ethics in CS. It's a field-wide problem, not a Google specific problem.

That's a really odd comment. Sure it would be nice if he could come up with such a plan, but it's a non sequitur to couple that to a decision to decline a grant. It's like saying, "Joe bought an electric car because he's concerned about global warming, but it would have been useful if he solved the worldwide problem, too...and developed a warp drive."

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#22

Post by bluepoint »

Crash0v3rid3 wrote: post #2

“Luke Stark declined a $60,000 research award from Google in support of the ousted leaders of its ethical AI group.” Ugh...I’m all for standing up for what you believe in, but I think he was foolish for turning down this money.

To be fair this is really not that much money. Cannot even pay for a postdoc for a year.

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#23

Post by fermienrico »

Timrit's actions are deeply unpleasant on Twitter. I don't care what side of the coin you're on - vile, contemptful behavior like this must be condemned. These people want to get famous and they're thirsty for social-martyr points. In their wake, they coerce people into shame, social media justice and other despicable behavior. She seems to tweet at an alarming frequency - some 10 mins between tweets all day when she isn't sleeping.

It is asymmetric social warfare. We're not listening to the other half of the story, other half being a giant corporation that can't go argue on a Twitter thread with her.

Seriously, go on her twitter page and see it for yourself. I implore you. It's like we've lost our ability to discuss difficult topics, politely present our case and be respectful to everyone.

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#24

Post by enriquto »

doopy1 wrote: post #12
prepend wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People prioritize lots of stuff. It’s funny to me when people stand up for dumb causes, but to each their own as what seems dumb to me is important for another.

Sometimes taking money from someone hurts your reputation or public identity, then it makes sense to decline... but this particular case is hard to relate to.

If you consider Google as the embodiment of evil (which is a reasonable position to have in some circles), then refusing its money is just as natural as it should have been for MIT to refuse Epstein's.

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#25

Post by ganoushoreilly »

bluepoint wrote: post #22
Crash0v3rid3 wrote: post #2

“Luke Stark declined a $60,000 research award from Google in support of the ousted leaders of its ethical AI group.” Ugh...I’m all for standing up for what you believe in, but I think he was foolish for turning down this money.

To be fair this is really not that much money. Cannot even pay for a postdoc for a year.

It may not be much in the scheme of things, but most universities pool grants. After taking operational costs (as much as 50%) the funds are then delegated to department for dispersement across payroll, research, etc. Depending on grant stipulations.

Every grant no matter the size is important. When I sat on the board of a Computer Science department, the University was pushing professors and students alike, to press for research grants of any size to help bolster the coffers.

It's a messed up system honestly, but they definitely have a set number of grants they need at a minimum.

Fortunately this will probably work out in the professors benefit in the long run within his industry and hopefully help with future grant writing endeavors.

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#26

Post by gumby »

bluepoint wrote: post #22
Crash0v3rid3 wrote: post #2

“Luke Stark declined a $60,000 research award from Google in support of the ousted leaders of its ethical AI group.” Ugh...I’m all for standing up for what you believe in, but I think he was foolish for turning down this money.

To be fair this is really not that much money. Cannot even pay for a postdoc for a year.

Can in the social sciences, which he may be.

Also it’s an unrestricted award, which might be used in an existing project, e.g. to buy your students or post docs new computers, or go to a few conferences or such.

But yes, not much money.

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#27

Post by bckr »

fermienrico wrote: post #23

Timrit's actions are deeply unpleasant on Twitter. I don't care what side of the coin you're on - vile, contemptful behavior like this must be condemned. These people want to get famous and they're thirsty for social-martyr points. In their wake, they coerce people into shame, social media justice and other despicable behavior. She seems to tweet at an alarming frequency - some 10 mins between tweets all day when she…

I recall the news when she was fired, and that her language seemed somewhat unsavory.

But right now, visiting her Twitter, there's nothing unsavory within a couple minutes' worth of scrolling.

Separately--you're, defending the giant corporation? Is that necessary?

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#29

Post by bckr »

Crash0v3rid3 wrote: post #2

“Luke Stark declined a $60,000 research award from Google in support of the ousted leaders of its ethical AI group.” Ugh...I’m all for standing up for what you believe in, but I think he was foolish for turning down this money.

Visiting Gebru's Twitter reveals that he is, for now, getting a lot of positive attention for his decision, which could be more valuable to him.

Re: A professor declined a $60K research award from Google

#30

Post by modularform123 »

bckr wrote: post #27
fermienrico wrote: post #23

Timrit's actions are deeply unpleasant on Twitter. I don't care what side of the coin you're on - vile, contemptful behavior like this must be condemned. These people want to get famous and they're thirsty for social-martyr points. In their wake, they coerce people into shame, social media justice and other despicable behavior. She seems to tweet at an alarming frequency - some 10 mins between tweets all day when she…

I recall the news when she was fired, and that her language seemed somewhat unsavory. But right now, visiting her Twitter, there's nothing unsavory within a couple minutes' worth of scrolling. Separately--you're, defending the giant corporation? Is that necessary?

Yes, it is necessary to defend the giant corporation when it does something good and stands up to toxic SJWs.
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