When Luke Stark demanded money from Google in November, he had no idea he would turn down $ 60,000 from the tech giant in March.
Stark, an assistant professor at Western University in Ontario, Canada, studies the social and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. In late November, he applied for an award at Google Research Scholar, a research grant of up to $ 60,000 to support professors who are in the early stages of their careers.
In an interview with CNN Business, Stark said he decided to apply for the fund "because of the idea at the time that Google was building a really strong, potentially industry-leading intelligent team." But this sensation did not last long.
In early December, Timnit Gebru, co-leader of Google's artificial intelligence team and a woman of color in a field mostly made up of white people and men, abruptly left Google.
Gebru wrote on Twitter that he was fired after sending an email expressing frustration over the company's continuing lack of diversity and an internal process regarding the review of an unpublished research paper at the time about the risks of building models ever-increasing. of the largest language of artificial intelligence.
Her departure sparked a months-long crisis for the company, including employee layoffs and an apology from Google CEO over how the circumstances of Gebru's departure made some employees question their place there.
Google conducted an internal investigation into the matter, the results of which were announced the same day the company fired Gebru team leader Margaret Mitchell, who had been consistently critical of the company on Twitter following Gebru's departure. Google, meanwhile, cited "numerous violations" of its code of conduct.
Të gjitha këto ngjarje iu kujtuan Luke Stark kur Google i dërgoi një email urimi duke i ofruar 60,000 dollarë për propozimin e tij në një projekt kërkimor që synonte të studionte se si kompanitë po përdorin inteligjencën artificiale për të zbuluar emocionet. Stark tha se ai menjëherë ndjeu se kishte nevojë të refuzonte çmimin për të treguar mbështetjen e tij për Gebru dhe Mitchell, si dhe ata që ende punojnë në Google.
"Mendimi im i parë ishte, “Unë duhet ta refuzoj," tha Stark për CNN Business.
"Me ndërgjegje të mirë, nuk mund të pranoj më fonde nga një kompani që i trajton punonjësit e saj në këtë mënyrë," tha për CNN Business Vijay Chidambaram, një asistent-profesor në Universitetin e Teksasit i cili studion sistemet e magazinimit.
People who do not accept Google funding may seem trivial, but the consequences are long-term because talented people are essential to Google.
Source: CNN
