AI researcher’s exit from Google sparks ethics, bias concerns
Prominent artificial intelligence scholar Timnit Gebru helped improve Google’s public image as a company that elevates Black computer scientists and questions harmful uses of AI technology.
But internally, Gebru, a leader in the field of AI ethics, was not shy about voicing doubts about those commitments — until she was pushed out of the company this week in a dispute over a research paper examining the societal dangers of an emerging branch of AI.
Gebru announced on Twitter she was fired. Google told employees she resigned. More than 1,200 Google employees have signed on to an open letter calling the incident “unprecedented research censorship” and faulting the company for racism and defensiveness.
Combinator in 2016, has long attracted the attention of Connecticut investment firms. Officials at Bullish, which has offices in Greenwich, said they invested in the “mid- six- figure range” into Function of Beauty when its annual sales were less than $ 1 million.
“The recent investment news validates what we identified in the
function of beauty team and premise a few years ago,” Bullish managing partner Michael Duda said. “The rampant acceleration of new technology combined with increasing shifts in consumer behavior allows great founders like Zahir, John and Hien to take market share from slow- moving, legacy conglomerates now more than ever.”
At the same time, the investment in Function of Beauty highlights a busy period for L Catterton. Last week, it closed on the
$ 800 million sale of hot sauce maker Cholula to McCormick, which produces seasonings, spices and condiments. It had bought Cholula for an undisclosed amount about two years ago.
As the owner of brands such as French’s yellow mustard, McCormick has seen demand grow this year as the coronavirus crisis has led to more customers cooking at home. McCormick also owns Frank’s RedHot hot sauce.
L Catterton describes itself as the world’s largest consumer
focused private equity firm. Other current and past investments in consumer brands include support for The Honest Co., Elemis, Bliss, Il Makiage, Frederic Fekkai, Nutrafol and Tula.
Headquartered at 599 W. Putnam Ave., the firm manages $ 20 billion of equity capital and employs a team of nearly 200 workers across 17 offices around the world.