In a win for collective action, Google canceled an ethics advisory board on artificial intelligence that began to crumble after the appointment of a couple controversial members sparked outrage among thousands of employees, tech experts, and the public.
“I am profoundly honored to have worked with so many principled people demanding tech ethics that center justice, not ethics-washing that makes room for bigotry.”
—Meredith Whittaker, AI researcher
The decision, first reported late Thursday by Vox, came about a week after Google announced the formation of its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) to help the tech giant pursue “responsible development” of artificial intelligence, or AI.
In the days after the ATEAC was unveiled, nearly 2,500 Google employees and more than 300 outside experts and advocates signed a worker-led petition calling on Google to remove board member Kay Coles James, president of The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank with close ties to the Trump administration.
The petition, launched by Googlers Against Transphobia, denounced James as “vocally anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-immigrant.” It charged that “not only are James’ views counter to Google’s stated values, but they are directly counter to the project of ensuring that the development and application of AI prioritizes justice over profit.”
While the effort to oust James garnered widespread support, she wasn’t the only member who provoked intense criticism. “The inclusion of drone company CEO Dyan Gibbens,” Vox noted, “reopened old divisions in the company over the use of the company’s AI for military applications.”
ATEAC members were pressured to step down in protest. Vox summarized:
In the face of mounting controversy, Google decided to scrap the board altogether. A spokesperson for the company told Vox on Thursday afternoon:
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