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The article says he "left Google to protest the company's firings of its own AI ethics researchers" but there's no evidence of that -- for example, his farewell
by ageek123 5y ago
The article says he "left Google to protest the company's firings of its own AI ethics researchers" but there's no evidence of that -- for example, his farewell email did not mention that at all, and AFAIK he hasn't made any public statement indicating that that was the reason he left.
- simfree 5y agoSamy said he was stunned by what happened to Timnit Gebru. Given that Google locked Margaret Mitchell out of her own email, I would expect that Samy's ability to email had been restricted as well: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3469738016467233&id=100002932057665&comment_id=3470470943060607¬if_t=mentions_comment¬if_id=1607192244022022&ref=m_notif https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3469738016467233...
- _cs2017_ 5y agoHe does not need access to corporate email to say that he left in protest. He can post such a statement on Facebook, Twitter, or email reporters from his personal account.
- tdeck 5y agoIf this is the primary reason, it's kind of strange to choose Apple, a company with a notoriously secretive and authoritarian internal culture.
- brundolf 5y agoBut arguably fewer ethical problems around their technology itself (setting aside supply chain and business dealings)
- mlindner 5y agoApple cares about ethics though, it's even part of their brand image. Google destroyed that aspect of their brand image with the destruction of "don't be evil".
- socceroos 5y agoApple does not care about ethics. Apple cares about what you think of their ethics depending on which part of the world you live in.
- jayd16 5y agoAre there places that leave email open to former employees? Seems like standard practice and the link doesn't say anything about email. What is the story there?
- qPM9l3XJrF 5y agoMargaret Mitchell's email was restricted because she was exfiltrating confidential documents en masse https://www.axios.com/scoop-google-is-investigating-the-actions-of-another-top-ai-ethicist-50030739-ea3d-4ea2-b452-c228b4fc9773.html https://www.axios.com/scoop-google-is-investigating-the-acti...
- towergratis 5y ago> his farewell email did not mention that at all, and AFAIK he hasn't made any public statement indicating that that was the reason he left. Why burn bridges?
- refulgentis 5y agoSo he didn't want to burn bridges, and told Reuters? Edit: this is a legitimate question, sorry haters
- bawolff 5y agoYou can't both protest something and not burn bridges at the same time. You have to choose one or the other.
- batch12 5y agoOne can protest something without going scorched-earth. The act of leaving, which deprives Google of his talent and experience, may have been protest enough.