Margaret Mitchell Fired by Google

Margaret Mitchell, the founding member and previous co-leader of Google’s ethical AI division, has been terminated from her position. The announcement of her dismissal was initially made by Mitchell herself through a post on Twitter.

Confirmation from Google

Google has officially acknowledged Mitchell’s firing with a statement provided to TechCrunch. The company’s statement detailed the circumstances surrounding the decision.

According to reports from Axios, in January, Google had already restricted Mitchell’s access to company resources. This action was reportedly taken due to her alleged use of automated tools to identify instances of unfair treatment directed towards Dr. Timnit Gebru.

The situation surrounding Dr. Gebru’s departure remains contested. While Gebru asserts she was terminated by Google, the company maintains that she voluntarily resigned from her role.

Mitchell’s Perspective

In a statement released to TechCrunch, Mitchell shared her own account of the events. She provided further context regarding the situation.

Earlier this month, Mitchell made public the email she claims to have sent to Google’s press relations team immediately after her corporate email access was revoked. This email addressed Dr. Gebru’s dismissal and suggested it was “rooted in the same biases of racism and sexism that can be absorbed by our AI systems when misused.”

The complete text of Mitchell’s letter outlines the various factors and organizational dynamics that contributed to Dr. Gebru’s leaving Google. Mitchell contends that the events surrounding Gebru’s departure “seem to originate from a similar lack of consideration that is inherent in contemporary technology, and therefore serves as an illustration of the very problem it seeks to solve.”

Mitchell further elaborated on the importance of ethical considerations in the development of artificial intelligence. She described her journey to leading, and then co-leading, the ethical AI team alongside Gebru, and the subsequent events that unfolded.

Looking ahead, Mitchell expressed a desire for those in positions of authority to acknowledge “the discomfort of participating in an inequitable system that undervalued a prominent scientist, and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”

Recent Developments at Google

Mitchell’s termination follows closely after Google’s announcement of Dr. Marian Croak’s appointment as the head of its responsible AI division. When contacted for comment regarding Mitchell’s situation yesterday, Google declined to provide a statement.

According to Axios, Google communicated the findings of its investigation into Dr. Gebru’s exit to its employees earlier today. While the specific details of the investigation remain undisclosed, the company indicated that it will be implementing new policies aimed at improving diversity and inclusion within Google.

Diversity and inclusion are key priorities for Google moving forward.

The events highlight the ongoing challenges in navigating ethical AI development and ensuring equitable treatment within the tech industry.