Google employees call for removal of rightwing thinktank leader from AI council

A group of Google employees have called for the removal of a rightwing thinktank leader from the company's new artificial intelligence council, citing her anti-LGBT and anti-immigrant record. Employees published a letter on Monday criticizing the appointment of Kay Coles James, the president of the Heritage Foundation, to Google's newly formed advisory council for "the responsible development of AI". James has a history of fighting trans rights and LGBT protections, and has advocated for Donald Trump's proposed border wall. "In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of'ethics' values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people and immigrants," the employees wrote in the letter, which was published online and shared internally at the company. "Such a position directly contravenes Google's stated values."