Prof. Anima Anandkumar

This will be a long thread. It represents my views solely. Many are puzzled by why I feel it possible to support both @JeffDean and @timnitGebru so I’d like to explain. I will start by saying that this in no way denies any current or past injustices. 1/n

It is also clear that mistakes have been made and these need to be fixed. It is also legitimate for many to be angry, and this by no way is a sameness argument. Like many Googlers I too am shocked and saddened. 2/n

I had the privilege of working alongside both Timnit and Jeff at the @DeepIndaba. I learned a lot from Timnit at the CIFAR ethics workshop, and worked again with Jeff at @Khipu_AI trying to improve AI in Latin America. 3/n

I support Jeff because throughout those outreach events he was a true champion of making science and tech more diverse. He has put his time and his own money behind many diversity efforts. He is a remarkable individuals, but even remarkable individuals make mistakes. 4/n

I have to support both Jeff an Timnit because I admire what they stand for. Because I know they are both suffering. But of course this must be investigated and with reflection and dialogue we need to change for the better 5/n

Our fields have since their beginning been horrible to women and reflected many other biases in the world at large. We have a long way to go and sometimes the slow pace is truly annoying. We must do more 6/n

However as @natschluter best put it we must be able to deplore and act without bringing down an individual that has done so much social good too, not to mention the important role he is playing in fighting a pandemic as we speak 7/n