Taking On Tech: Dr. Timnit Gebru Exposes The Underbelly Of Performative Diversity In The Tech Industry

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Google AI Research Scientist Timnit Gebru speaks onstage during ... [ ] Day 3 of TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2018 at Moscone Center on September 7, 2018 in San Francisco, California. 'Taking On Tech is an informative series that explores artificial intelligence, data science, algorithms, and mass censorship. In this inaugural report, For(bes) The Culture kicks things off with Dr. Timnit Gebru, a former researcher and co-lead of Google's Ethical AI team. When Gebru was forced out of Google after refusing to retract a research paper that was already cleared by Google's internal review process, a conversation about the tech industry's inherent diversity problem resurfaced. The paper raised concerns on algorithmic bias in machine learning and the latent perils that AI presents for marginalized communities. Around 1,500 Google employees signed a letter in protest, calling for accountability and answers over her unethical firing.