Summary List Placement
Google has fired Margaret Mitchell, the former co-lead on its ethical AI team, following an extended investigation that has kept Mitchell locked out of her corporate account for weeks.
It means both leaders on Google’s ethical AI team now say they have been fired, leaving the future of the group unknown.
Mitchell announced the news on Twitter on Friday by simply writing “I’m fired.”
In January, Google blocked Mitchell’s corporate access for downloading and sharing emails related to Timnit Gebru, the AI ethicist — and other ethical AI co-lead — who said she had been fired from Google last December.
“After conducting a review of this manager’s conduct, we confirmed that there were multiple violations of our code of conduct, as well as of our security policies, which included the exfiltration of confidential business-sensitive documents and private data of other employees,” a Google spokesperson told Insider.
Mitchell and her team were told that she had been fired at the same time, according to a Google employee who requested anonymity because they were unauthorized to speak to the press
The news comes just a day after Google reorganized its AI division, appointing engineering VP Marian Croak to oversee its work in responsible AI research.
On Friday, the company also said it had completed its investigation into Gebru’s exit, and announced a series of new policies to increase staff retention and boost diversity and inclusion, Axios first reported.
This story is developing…
Are you a current or former Googler with more to share? You can contact this reporter securely using the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-628-228-1836) or encrypted email ([email protected]). Reach out using a nonwork device.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: What makes ‘Parasite’ so shocking is the twist that happens in a 10-minute sequence
————————
Originally published at https://www.businessinsider.com/google-fires-ai-ethics-researcher-margaret-mitchell-2021-2 on .
