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Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

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Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#91

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

jjtheblunt wrote: post #78
thr0wawayf00 wrote: post #38

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the on…

The office is where the very expensive labs are. For at least parts of Apple engineering, very expensive equipment and prototypes are under lockdown and too expensive to duplicate for WFH. (at least that's how it was during my several years there.)

I don't think anyone (or, at least not many people) is arguing against working in the office if you have a specific need to be there. What people have an issue with is requiring a return to the office for no other reason than "group synergy".

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#92

Post by hiddencost »

prirun wrote: post #72
qbasic_forever wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We deserve to have input into how we work best and if that means walking away from companies run by egomaniacs that need to see butts in seats, then so be it. The logical conclusion of this line of thinking is to organize your coworkers. You have much more bargaining power about your work conditions as an organized union. The history of unionization stems primarily from workers demanding safe working environments.

> You have much more bargaining power about your work conditions as an organized union. You also give away your power as an individual to those running the union.

I'll refrain from ruder responses and point to the weekend as a lovely innovation powered by unions.

How did you get so intensely in thrall of the people holding your collar?

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#93

Post by smackeyacky »

jjtheblunt wrote: post #78
thr0wawayf00 wrote: post #38

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the on…

The office is where the very expensive labs are. For at least parts of Apple engineering, very expensive equipment and prototypes are under lockdown and too expensive to duplicate for WFH. (at least that's how it was during my several years there.)

This guy is doing machine learning though. All he needs is an internet connection.

I understand the idea that hardware WFH is going to be a no-go, but software? We already had the revolutionary moment where the internet is everywhere.

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#94

Post by alistairSH »

dimtion wrote: post #21
mmmmkay wrote: post #10

I recently left Amazon for a fully remote position and that was my sole decision making factor.

Amazon WFH policy is still flexible though. For example, in my team the current policy is to work wherever we feel the most productive and happiest. You could have potentially moved within the company if that was only decision factor.

Maybe? I recently interviewed and nobody could tell me what the policy would be in a few months.

“It’s WFH today, but that’ll probably change. And you can always take our bus from your local AWS office to the office where the rest of the team may or may not be because we don’t know what our policy will be.”

I’d expect a company of Amazon’s size and stature to have a better plan than “whatever your VP wants this week.”

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#95

Post by zasdffaa »

hooande wrote: post #77
zasdffaa wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm one of those misfits/troublemakers/etc. I've done my life mostly on my terms, and I've had it really tough. Conformists generally get it much easier. I'm all for more independent thought and fuck-you-ness but never forget that for most people that comes at a high price, so take off the rose-tinted specs.

here's to you, good luck in your journey. make it worth it "If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a t…

I don't know if it's worth it. It's the way I am and I seem to have as much choice over it as ivy chooses growing up a wall.

I've never been hungry by choice and I've always had a roof over my head, and I'm grateful for both of those things, but let's look at something I do know: "..could mean losing ... maybe even your mind"

Yeah, BTDT. A lifetime of mental health problems culminating in a complete ... I dunno, breakdown? ... where I was barely able to function for 2 years and became a risk to others (should have been hospitalised but wasn't), and another 2 years recovering. 4 years of my life wasted. Any projected glamour of mental illness is purely done by those who've never had it. Mental illness is fucking shit and has no redeeming value.

Edit: oh yes, and "Isolation is the gift" - Never is loneliness a gift, ever.

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#96

Post by whatever1 »

jjtheblunt wrote: post #78
thr0wawayf00 wrote: post #38

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the on…

The office is where the very expensive labs are. For at least parts of Apple engineering, very expensive equipment and prototypes are under lockdown and too expensive to duplicate for WFH. (at least that's how it was during my several years there.)

But why ML people have to be forced in the office ?

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#97

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

hooande wrote: post #77
zasdffaa wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm one of those misfits/troublemakers/etc. I've done my life mostly on my terms, and I've had it really tough. Conformists generally get it much easier. I'm all for more independent thought and fuck-you-ness but never forget that for most people that comes at a high price, so take off the rose-tinted specs.

here's to you, good luck in your journey. make it worth it "If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a t…

"Elegant, inspiring, soaring prose often makes for incredibly shitty real-world advice."

- hn_throwaway_99

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#98

Post by wanderingmind »

ineedasername wrote: post #70

I'm trying to hire for a position right now and it has dragged on for months for two reasons: 1) WFH is now limited to 1 day per week, and a 3 month probationary period where new hires don't even get that. 2) Salary. It's still a job seeker's market and my workplace is not keeping pace. It's spec'ed for 3 years of experience but salary is about the median for a new graduate w/o professional experience. I'm happy to t…

What you need is a new job where they don't treat your skill as a cost center

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#99

Post by jjtheblunt »

smackeyacky wrote: post #93
jjtheblunt wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The office is where the very expensive labs are. For at least parts of Apple engineering, very expensive equipment and prototypes are under lockdown and too expensive to duplicate for WFH. (at least that's how it was during my several years there.)

This guy is doing machine learning though. All he needs is an internet connection. I understand the idea that hardware WFH is going to be a no-go, but software? We already had the revolutionary moment where the internet is everywhere.

That's not established without knowing if they're working on neural engine hardware, for example.

Re: Apple's director of machine learning resigns due to return to office work

#100

Post by nostromo »

qbasic_forever wrote: post #29
mupuff1234 wrote: post #8

You might agree or disagree with RTO but at least they aren't bending the rules for execs.

Unlike Google where Urs demanded his org back in person while he moved to New Zealand to safely work remote: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-exec-reportedly-worki...

And it's not just Google. A recent report showed that corporate execs are twice as likely to still be working remotely compared to the rank-and-file, even as their companies mandate returning to the office..

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/6017a433-bf69-48cc-9aa0-70034b2e...

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