Timnit Gebru, the computer scientist whose acrimonious departure from Google’s (GOOGL.O) artificial intelligence research team sparked debate about diversity and censorship across the tech industry, announced on Thursday that she had set up a tiny lab to continue her work freely.
The Distributed AI Research Institute has raised $3.7 million from foundations with the goal of critically examining big tech services and proposing AI-based solutions to concerns like food shortages and climate change, according to Gebru.
It joins a number of non-governmental initiatives, such as the Algorithmic Justice League, that promote ethical AI use. Critics fear that systems such as facial recognition and credit scoring might lead to mass surveillance and racial discrimination if sufficient controls are not in place.
Gebru has hired a South African fellow and plans to hire more scholars next year. They plan to publish studies and educate activists and legislators all across the world.
Many scientists and engineers praised her for speaking out about the tragedy, but others questioned her work and approach. In the aftermath, Alphabet Inc’s Google reorganized Gebru’s ethical AI research team, fired her co-leader, and lost the pair’s manager to Apple. find out more
Gebru chose to launch DAIR versus joining another company since he had the freedom to pursue whatever he wanted. The key, she continued, will be to keep it going without being reliant on sponsors or other authorities. The MacArthur, Ford, and Rockefeller foundations were among the first backers.
