OpenAI CEO says Muslim workers in tech fear retaliation for speaking about their recent experiences | CNN Business
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Sam Altman called on the tech sector to have more “empathy” for Muslim, Arab, “and especially palestinian” colleagues amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
  • BloodSlut@lemmy.worldEnglish
    50·
    11 months ago

    i dont really know enough about altman to have any opinion on him, but i appreciate seeing someone with his platform as a high profile western figure pointing out the disparity in treatment and calling for people to go forwards with empathy for all affected by the mess that is the palestinian and israeli conflict

    • Andy@slrpnk.netEnglish
      33·
      11 months ago

      I would second this. Based on what I’ve read, he seems like a pretty standard megalomaniacal tech billionaire, but when you’re right you’re right. And his take here is right, and I’m grateful for it. Especially coming from a fellow Jew. Our voices in particular are a powerful tool for protecting our Muslim brothers and sisters.

    • Doorbook@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      11 months ago

      IIRC he mentioned he have guns and gas masks from the IDF.

      It is wild to me that someone can receive stuff like that from a foreign military yet get security clearance for an emerging technology.

  • morrowindEnglish
    25·
    11 months ago

    In response to a reply to his post asking about how his Jewish colleagues were doing, Altman said, “i am jewish. i believe that antisemitism is a significant and growing problem in the world, and i see a lot of people in our industry sticking up for me, which i deeply appreciate.”

    Altman continued: “i see much less of that for muslims.”

    classy reply, ngl

  • sugarfree@lemmy.worldEnglish
    370·
    11 months ago

    The chief executive of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, one of the most powerful startups in the world, said in a post on X that Muslim, Arab and Palestinian colleagues in the tech community that he has spoken with “feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, often out of fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects.”

    If they want to show support for hamas terrorists then they should rightly feel a fear of retaliation.

    • Collision Resistance@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      466·
      11 months ago

      What if they want to show support for ordinary Palestinians, not Hamas? Do they have your blessing in that case, kind soul?

      • sugarfree@lemmy.worldEnglish
        449·
        11 months ago

        Showing support for civilians is totally fine and not likely to lead to any retaliation. For the workers to believe retaliation is possible makes me think that they want to express support for terrorism.

        • Collision Resistance@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          337·
          11 months ago

          Oh. So you “think” they want to express support for terrorism. Is that because they belong to a particular religion? Be as open as you wish. You won’t face any retaliation from me. 🤗🤗

          • Monomate@lemm.eeEnglish
            113·
            11 months ago

            I feel like if this article was written with no mention of Arabs, Muslins or Palestinians employees, but just mentioned employees in general fearing being retaliated, Sugarfree’s comment would still stand nonetheless. And I kind of agree that if they fear expressing their opinions it’s because their opinions are too extreme and they know it. I mean, the “from the river to the sea” kind of opinion.

            • rambaroo@lemmy.worldEnglish
              101·
              11 months ago

              Fucking what? The article is explicitly about Arab and Muslim employees

              It’s disgusting how fucking comfortable you islamophobic racists feel all of a sudden. I bet you think you’re so much better than the anti-semites too. Two sides of the same coin

              Y’all trying to gaslight us like the response to any kind of sympathy for Palestinians hasn’t been completely over the top.

        • Deceptichum@kbin.social
          192·
          11 months ago

          Are you kidding? There has already been so much retaliation.

          People are losing their jobs for supporting Palestinians and not the genocide committers in Israel.

        • scarabic@lemmy.worldEnglish
          14·
          11 months ago

          I may create a second account so I can downvote you again. What a circular, evil sentiment. The fact they’re worried suggests to you that they support terrorism. Fuck you.

          • Doorbook@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            11 months ago

            I am glad the upvote downvote ratio here is accurate to some degree. I do add notes to these accounts with label so it help ignore what they write on other posts…

        • GenderNeutralBro@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          You jumped to that conclusion awfully fast, and you’re certainly not alone in that. That’s precisely why people fear retaliation.

    • Andy@slrpnk.netEnglish
      182·
      11 months ago

      I’ve leaned that one of the most powerful tools for addressing whether a take regarding the conflict in Gaza is bad it’s to try testing how the logic holds up if we apply it to a different group or side.

      I’m Jewish. I’ve got a lot of friends and family that are feeling uncomfortable speaking about the huge raise in antisemitism we’re experiencing. Would it make sense to reply to that by saying, ‘If they want to show support for Israeli genocide then they should rightly feel a fear of retaliation.’. ?

      Altman is correct. Jews and Muslims in America should be working together to support one another against the simultaneous rise in hate against our communities. We should also be frank in recognizing that most Muslims do not have as much institutional support as most of their Jewish colleagues, and both need and deserve it.