NeurIPS keynote speaker apologizes for reference to Chinese language scholar

A speaker on the annual NeurIPS AI convention has drawn criticism — not for her views on AI, however for the way in which she referred to a Chinese language scholar.

Throughout his main presentation On “Methods to Optimize What Issues Most,” MIT Media Lab professor Rosalind Picard (pictured above) included a slide citing an excuse given by a “Chinese language scholar who’s now kicked out of the highest college” for having used AI, with the coed purported to say, “Nobody in my college taught us morals or values.”

The slide additionally features a be aware from Picard saying, “Most Chinese language individuals I do know are sincere and morally upright. »

Jiao Solar, Google DeepMind scientist shared a photo from the slide on » Yuandong Tian, ​​a analysis scientist at Meta, reposted Solar’s remark and added“That is specific racial bias. How may this have occurred in NeurIPS? »

Within the question-and-answer sequences, it was also shared onone attendee famous that this was the one time an individual’s nationality was talked about in Picard’s presentation, steered it was “a bit offensive” and urged her to take away the reference if she made the presentation once more – a suggestion that Picard appears to agree with. .

Following the convention, the organizers of NeurIPS posted an apologywriting: “We wish to reply to the remark made throughout this afternoon’s visitor lecture, as it’s one thing that NeurIPS doesn’t tolerate and doesn’t align with our code of conduct. We tackle this problem immediately with the speaker. NeurIPS is devoted to being a various and inclusive place the place everyone seems to be handled equally.

Picard additionally apologized a declaration by which she expressed her “regrets” for having talked about the coed’s nationality.

“I see that this was pointless, unrelated to what I used to be saying, and prompted unintended unfavourable associations,” Picard wrote. “I apologize for doing this and really feel horrible in regards to the misery this incident has prompted. I’m studying from this expertise and recognize the concepts on the best way to attempt to make amends to the group.