{"id":107527,"date":"2021-02-20T03:28:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-20T03:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=107527"},"modified":"2021-02-20T03:28:04","modified_gmt":"2021-02-20T03:28:04","slug":"google-fires-second-ai-ethics-leader-as-dispute-over-research-diversity-grows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/markets\/google-fires-second-ai-ethics-leader-as-dispute-over-research-diversity-grows\/","title":{"rendered":"Google fires second AI ethics leader as dispute over research, diversity grows"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Reuters) – Alphabet Inc\u2019s Google fired staff scientist Margaret Mitchell on Friday, they both said, a move that fanned company divisions on academic freedom and diversity that were on display since its December dismissal of AI ethics researcher Timnit Gebru.<\/p>

FILE PHOTO: The Google sign is shown on one of the company’s office buildings in Irvine, California, U.S., October 20, 2020. REUTERS\/Mike Blake\/File Photo<\/figcaption>

Google said in a statement Mitchell violated the company\u2019s code of conduct and security policies by moving electronic files outside the company. Mitchell, who announced her firing on Twitter, did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s ethics in artificial intelligence work has been under scrutiny since the firing of Gebru, a scientist who gained prominence for exposing bias in facial analysis systems. The dismissal prompted thousands of Google workers to protest. She and Mitchell had called for greater diversity and inclusion among Google\u2019s research staff and expressed concern that the company was starting to censor papers critical of its products.<\/p>\n

Gebru said Google fired her after she questioned an order not to publish a study saying AI that mimics language could hurt marginalized populations. Mitchell, a co-author of the paper, publicly criticized the company for firing Gebru and undermining the credibility of her work.<\/p>\n

The pair for about two years had co-led the ethical AI team, started by Mitchell.<\/p>\n

Google AI research director Zoubin Ghahramani and a company lawyer informed Mitchell\u2019s team of her firing on Friday in a meeting called at short notice, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person said little explanation was given for the dismissal. Google declined to comment.<\/p>\n

The company said Mitchell\u2019s firing followed disciplinary recommendations by investigators and a review committee. It said her violations \u201cincluded the exfiltration of confidential business-sensitive documents and private data of other employees\u201d. The investigation began Jan. 19.<\/p>\n

Google employee Alex Hanna said on Twitter the company was running a \u201csmear campaign\u201d against Mitchell and Gebru, with whom she worked closely. Google declined to comment on Hanna\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n

Google has recruited top scientists with promises of research freedom, but the limits are tested as researchers increasingly write about the negative effects of technology and offer unflattering perspectives on their employer\u2019s products.<\/p>\n

Reuters reported exclusively in December that Google introduced a new \u201csensitive topics\u201d review last year to ensure that papers on topics such as the oil industry and content recommendation systems would not get the company into legal or regulatory trouble. Mitchell publicly expressed concern that the policy could lead to censorship.<\/p>\n

Google reiterated to researchers in a memo and meeting on Friday that it was working to improve pre-publication review of papers. It also announced new policies on Friday to handle sensitive departures and evaluate executives based on team diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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