Almost three weeks after Black’s abrupt departure ethics of artificial intelligence Timnit Gebru, more details appear about the new and shady set of policies that Google has launched for its search team.
After reviewing internal communications and talking to researchers affected by the rule change, Reuters reported on Wednesday that the tech giant recently added a review process of “sensitive issues” to the work of its scientists and on at least three occasions explicitly called for scientists to refrain from launching Google technology in a negative light.
Under the new procedure, scientists must meet with special legal, political, and public relations teams before conducting AI research related to so-called controversial topics that may include facial analyzes and categorizations of race, gender, or political affiliation.
In an example reviewed by Reuters, scientists who had investigated the recommendation that AI used to fill user feeds on platforms such as YouTube (a property of Google) had drafted a paper detailing concerns that the technology could be used to promote “misinformation, discriminatory or unfair results” and “insufficient content diversity”, as well as leading to “political polarization”. After being reviewed by a senior executive who instructed researchers to get a more positive tone, the final publication suggests that systems can promote “accurate information, equity and diversity of content.”
“Technological advances and the growing complexity of our external environment are increasingly leading to situations where seemingly harmless projects pose ethical, reputational, regulatory, or legal issues,” according to an internal website describing the policy.
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In recent weeks – and particularly after the departure from Gebru, a renowned researcher who reportedly fell into disgrace over the rises after sounding the alarm over the censorship that was infiltrating the investigation process: Google has faced greater control on the possible biases of its internal research division.
Four staff researchers who spoke to Reuters validated Gebru’s claims, saying they also believe Google is beginning to interfere with critical studies on the potential of the technology to hurt.
“If we are researching the right thing based on our experience and we are not allowed to publish this for reasons that do not agree with the high quality peer review, we will find ourselves in a serious censorship issue,” Margaret Mitchell said. say a senior company scientist.
In early December, Gebru claimed she had been fired by Google after withdrawing against an order not to publish research claiming that AI capable of mimicking speech could put marginalized populations at a disadvantage.