NeurIPS Keynote Speaker Apologizes for Chinese Student Reference
In a shocking turn of events at the annual NeurIPS AI conference, MIT Media Lab Professor Rosalind Picard has issued an apology for referencing a Chinese student in her keynote presentation on “How to optimize what matters most.” The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about racial bias in the field of AI.
The Controversial Slide
During her presentation, Picard included a slide quoting an excuse attributed to a “Chinese student who is now expelled from top university” for using AI, with the student allegedly stating, “Nobody at my school taught us morals or values.” Additionally, Picard added a note on the slide stating, “Most Chinese who I know are honest and morally upright.”
The slide quickly drew criticism from attendees, with Google DeepMind scientist Jiao Sun sharing a photo of it on X, highlighting the need to address racial bias in AI systems. Yuandong Tian, a research scientist at Meta, also reposted Sun’s comments, calling the incident “explicit racial bias” and questioning how such a reference could occur at NeurIPS.
Public Backlash and Apologies
In a Q&A session following the presentation, an attendee raised concerns about the reference to the student’s nationality, deeming it “offensive.” Picard appeared to acknowledge the criticism and expressed willingness to remove the reference in future presentations.
After the talk, NeurIPS organizers took swift action, issuing a public apology and emphasizing their commitment to diversity and inclusion. They stated, “We want to address the comment made during the invited talk this afternoon, as it is something that NeurIPS does not condone and it doesn’t align with our code of conduct. We are addressing this issue with the speaker directly.”
Reflection and Regret
Picard also issued a personal apology, expressing regret for her actions and acknowledging the unintended negative impact of her words. She stated, “I see that this was unnecessary, irrelevant to the point I was making, and caused unintended negative associations. I apologize for doing this and feel very badly about the distress that this incident has caused. I am learning from this experience, and I welcome ideas for how to try to make amends to the community.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in the field of AI, prompting discussions about the need for greater inclusivity and respect in academic and professional settings. As the AI community grapples with issues of bias and discrimination, it is crucial for individuals to reflect on their words and actions to ensure a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
