Google's AI ethics drama has taken another twist. Three groups working to promote diversity in AI say they will no longer accept funding from the search giant after a series of controversial firings at the company. Queer in AI, Black in AI, and Widening NLP cited the dismissals of Timnit Gebru and Margaret, the former co-leads of Google's Ethical AI team, as well as recruiter April Christina Curley, as reasons for the decision. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the groups said Google's actions had "inflicted tremendous harm" and "set a dangerous precedent for what type of research, advocacy, and retaliation is permissible in our community." Until Google addresses the harm they've caused by undermining both inclusion and critical research, we are unable to reconcile Google's actions with our organizational missions.We have therefore decided to end our sponsorship relationship with Google.

Three groups focused on increasing diversity in artificial intelligence say they will no longer take funding from Google. In a joint statement released Monday, Black in AI, Queer in AI, and Widening NLP said they acted to protest Google's treatment of its former ethical AI team leaders Timnit Gebru and Margaret Mitchell, as well as former recruiter April Christina Curley, a Black queer woman. "The potential for AI technologies to cause particular harm to members of our communities weighs heavily on our organizations," the statement reads. "Google's actions in the last few months have inflicted tremendous harms that have reverberated throughout our entire community. They not only have caused damage but set a dangerous precedent for what type of research, advocacy, and retaliation is permissible in our community."