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AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

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Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#61
post #55
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's how it is supposed to work. If you complain to HR about your manager how can they reveal your identity when your manager controls your performance review and compensation?

> That's how it is supposed to work. How, exactly, is it supposed to work? If you are asked to respond to allegations, yet those allegations are not shared with you, what are they actually asking you to do?

In the article it says the company wanted the author to retract their paper. Doesn't sound like they were being vague about it.

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unions historically in America have been massive front organizations for mobsters and mafia. Check out the Teamsters - there are many many other examples. Does that make them racist? Of course not. But they have absolutely been discriminatory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_T...

Sure some of them have, but their foundational democratic and working class structure makes it possible for them to have a progressive effect on society. By contrast, the corporations that they are in conflict with supported the Nazis and planned a coup against FDR because their foundational interests in a regimented, nationalist, power hungry, and elitist society were aligned. https://newspunch.com/american-companie…

And yet the most unionized industry in the US (at like 75% of overall union membership) is white-collar federal employment.

There's nothing working class about that.

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#63

Wow. Outside of the issues discussed, this email was not what I would expect from senior manager. The language is all over the place. It is rambling. It is not unintelligible, but is far from an easy read. It seems like something dictated into a machine rather than something composed on a keyboard. If you are not confident in your use of language but still want to go out in a blaze of glory, make sure someone QCs you…

Agreed.

>Do you know what happened since? Silencing in the most fundamental way possible.

"Silencing in the most fundamental way" to me means physically clapping your hand over someone's mouth or murdering them, neither of which I believe she actually meant. This email would have greatly benefited from peer review.

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unions historically in America have been massive front organizations for mobsters and mafia. Check out the Teamsters - there are many many other examples. Does that make them racist? Of course not. But they have absolutely been discriminatory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_T...

Sure some of them have, but their foundational democratic and working class structure makes it possible for them to have a progressive effect on society. By contrast, the corporations that they are in conflict with supported the Nazis and planned a coup against FDR because their foundational interests in a regimented, nationalist, power hungry, and elitist society were aligned. https://newspunch.com/american-companie…

[flagged]

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#65
She seems very passionate about makeing the world a better place. The only downside to this sort of drive is that it doesn't always align with everyone else's vision of a better world. I don't think she and Google were on the same page and perhaps both parties will be much happier going their separate ways.

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#67
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unions have historically been some of the most racist and discriminatory organizations in the USA.

[flagged]

My violent collectivist group is less violent than your violent collectivist group!

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#68

I'm very confused by all of this. I've read the tweets and this article and can't make heads or tails of what is going on. What am I missing?

Gebru wrote a research paper and circulated it for feedback. Google managers said "retract the paper because we say so." Gebru responded with "I'd rather resign (and also you suck)." Google "accepted" the resignation (i.e. fired her).

Re: AI researcher Timnit Gebru resigns from Google

#70

Unrelated, but hiring by race or gender is inherently racist. We should hire by skill alone whether the person is a Lesbian Black Female, or a White Male

Some people have redefined racism to mean that it's impossible to be racist to the majority. I.e. white people.

Another argument is that it's necessary to be discriminatory in favour of minorities to level the playing field.

I share your opinion, but not everyone does.

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