Thread by @emilymbender

MSFT lays off its responsible AI team

The thing that strikes me most about this story from @ZoeSchiffer and @CaseyNewton is the way in which the MSFT execs describe the urgency to move "AI models into the hands of customers"

platformer.news/p/microsoft-ju…

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@ZoeSchiffer @CaseyNewton There is no urgency to build "AI". There is no urgency to use "AI". There is no benefit to this race aside from (perceived) short-term profit gains.

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@ZoeSchiffer @CaseyNewton It is very telling that when push comes to shove, despite having attracted some very talented, thoughtful, proactive, researchers, the tech cos decide they're better off without ethics/responsible AI teams.

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@ZoeSchiffer @CaseyNewton Self-regulation was never going to be sufficient, but I believe that internal teams working in concert with external regulation could have been a really beneficial combination.

https://twitter.com/emilymbender/status/1336517038525665280?s=20

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So, what can we do as researchers and otherwise, in this moment?

I have to believe there is value in calling out #AIhype when we see it, in declining to participate in the #AIhype, and in advocating for regulation.

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And those who are making buck off of this will try to tell us: You can't regulate this --- that will stifle progress!

To which I ask: Progress towards what, exactly?

https://twitter.com/emilymbender/status/1635444254423281664

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And they will tell us: You can't possibly regulate effectively anyway, because the tech is moving too fast.

But (channeling @rcalo here): The point of regulation isn't to micromanage specific technologies but rather to establish and protect rights. And those are enduring.

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I call on everyone who is close to this tech: we have a job to do here. The techcos where the $, data and power have accumulated are abandoning even the pretext of "responsible" development, in a race to the bottom.

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At the very least, we should be working to educate those around us not to fall for the hype---to never accept "AI" medical advice, legal advice, psychotherapy, etc.