Amid mounting concerns over diversity and inclusion within the tech industry, Google faces yet another whistleblower lawsuit by an ex-employee. Satrajit Chatterjee, a former senior engineering manager at the tech giant, alleges that his termination was the result of challenging a paper published by Google, extolling the capabilities of artificial intelligence in expediting computer chip design. The lawsuit comes in the wake of other AI research team members’ oustings, raising questions about Google’s commitment to diversity and how dissenting voices are handled within the company. Is this a recurring infraction of employees’ rights, or do employees not have the right to speak out the truth?
AI researchers’ termination for cause at Google
Google’s termination of Satrajit Chatterjee is not the first instance of the company parting ways with an AI researcher who raised concerns about various aspects of its operations. In late 2020, Timnit Gebru, an AI ethicist who co-led Google’s ethical AI team, was forced out of the research group after voicing frustrations about the company’s diversity promises and questioning an ethics research paper. Shortly after, Margaret Mitchell, the other co-lead of the team, was fired for publicly criticizing Google’s handling of Gebru’s departure.
Before his dismissal in March 2022, Satrajit Chatterjee served as a senior engineering manager, responsible for evaluating Project Morpheus, an initiative focused on chip design. Discontent arose when Google published a scientific paper in the journal Nature in April 2020, boasting that its AI programs could outperform human capabilities in designing computer chips. Chatterjee and his team conducted additional research, leading him to believe that the paper misrepresented the actual potential of Google’s proprietary technology.
Satrajit Chatterjee’s concerns were brought to the attention of Google supervisors when he presented his findings, alleging that the company’s paper might involve fraud. As a result, he claims to have been terminated due to alleged threats of disclosing these suspicions to the CEO and the board. The court’s summary of the complaint indicates Chatterjee’s belief that Google’s termination was a form of retaliation for refusing to participate in actions that could violate state or federal laws.
Diversity concerns and unrest in Google’s AI research team
The firing of Chatterjee is part of a larger pattern of unrest within Google’s AI research team. Google ethical AI researcher Alex Hanna published a resignation letter earlier this year, highlighting a “whiteness problem” within Google and other tech companies. Joining forces with other disaffected members, Hanna joined Gebru’s Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, established late last year. The series of departures and allegations signal potential deep-seated issues within Google’s AI research culture.
Google attempted to dismiss Chatterjee’s claims by arguing that they were merely academic disputes or disagreements between scientists over the best approach to chip design. The company considered these matters as internal concerns, implying that Chatterjee’s allegations and reports of fraud should not be treated as whistleblower or diversity-related issues. However, the court’s ruling favored Chatterjee’s claims, asserting that Google’s termination could be linked to his refusal to participate in potentially illegal activities.
Chatterjee goes beyond merely challenging his termination, asserting that Google’s AI research efforts involved hyping results to deceive shareholders and the public. This raises concerns not only about diversity but also about the ethical aspects of the company’s AI research and how it is communicated to external stakeholders.
Awaiting the final verdict
Although a tentative ruling has been issued in favor of Chatterjee, Google can contest this decision at a hearing before the judge’s final ruling. Previous claims made by Chatterjee in the case have been dismissed by the court, but the specific allegations relating to his termination and retaliation remain unresolved.
As this legal battle continues, Google faces heightened scrutiny over its handling of AI research, diversity, and whistleblower complaints. The outcome of this case could serve as a significant indicator of how tech companies address concerns about diversity and dissenting views within their ranks.
