Apple's Director of Machine Learning Resigns Due to Return to Office Work

[pshufd]

Well, I guess Apple will just have to close up shop and shut down, won't they? Psssstttt.....everyone is replaceable.

Everyone isn't replaceable. The Patriots replaced Tom Brady. How'd that work out? It turns out that it was Brady, not Bellichek.

If you lose someone important, then you may not be able to finish a project or your development plans may be delayed or you may need several people to do the same job. Some people are truly irreplaceable. Companies just make other plans. They may shelve a project or try to build up a team to do what the person did.

 

[pshufd]

While the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6%, the labor participation rate fell 0.2 percentage points to 62.2% and total employment declined by 353,000. Numbers from the household survey can fluctuate from month to month. But labor participation and the workforce have been trending up since January 2021 as lockdowns eased and vaccines rolled out. April represented the biggest labor participation decline since September 2020.

What happened? Demand for workers isn’t falling, as nearly every employer survey shows businesses are desperate to hire. This week’s JOLTS report estimated a record 11.5 million job openings in March. The National Federation of Independent Business says 47% of small business owners reported job openings they couldn’t fill last month.

Perhaps the answer is that hourly earnings rose a mere 0.3% in April. While wages are up 5.5% from a year ago, increases have slowed over the past few months. This may be partly due to employers hiring more lower-wage workers, which may reduce average earnings. Some may also be struggling to increase pay amid other inflationary pressures.

Opinion | The Inflationary April Jobs Report

Employers added workers, but labor participation fell.

www.wsj.com

One of the issues for low-wage workers (who typically don't have WFH) options, is the price of gasoline. I expect oil prices to drop given the Saudi's move to increase production today and the major deflationary pressures in China due to Zero COVID. There are still a lot of job postings and Federal Reserve Governor Kashkari on Friday indicated that it may be skills mismatch. In the 1970s and 1980s, companies trained employees but in this century, companies wanted you to come in with the skills that they wanted as they didn't want to train. That may be changing.

If jobs can be done WFH, then I expect companies will offer them absent other issues. The much higher commuting costs (gasoline prices, shortages of cars, high price of cars) has affected some employees.

 

[Superman730]

A lot of differing opinions in this thread so I will only share MY experience with this...

I believe that, in job positions where it is possible, the employer should allow flexibility based on preference combined with performance. There are some employees that I work with that prefer to be in the office for work and have complete separation of work and home life and I think they should be allowed that ability. I know I used to be like that but the pandemic has shown me that I am just as productive at home as I am in the office so I've backed off that thinking for MY workflow. However, I do know that the lines have blurred a little and I am letting the two worlds merge more than they probably should, having meals or playing with my child while I'm in what I see as a superfluous meeting but also I work into the night to finish things when in the office I would have waited until the next day to beat the commute home. My work has started enacting a return to work plan and I don't hate it (so far). It's nice to reconnect in person with some of my coworkers when I've only seen them through the screen the past 2+ years. But I'd like the flexibility to not HAVE to come in if I'm completing my work well and on time.

 

[Adamantoise]

- Goodfellow was the director of ML
- A director oversees all operations and evaluates them
- Siri uses ML
- Siri is trash

If he had no part in evaluating Siri, then he was no Director.

I’m not saying Siri is the only feature that uses ML. But Siri is definitely one of the features that does. I can go on picking apart iOS features that use ML and are not working well but I don’t have the time and Siri stands out the most to me.

Every year is the same thing. New iOS comes out in September and it’s broken until around this time, right before the new iOS is announced. Takes quite a few updates to polish it.

He is "a" director; as in, one of many.

Which organization have you worked in that has only one director for anything exactly? Have you worked corporate job before?

Even in the field of ML, people tend to have specializations. People that have expertise in NLP may not know anything about GANs and vice versa.

Do you have any idea how much time one would need to master all branches of mathematics and statistics that make for effective ML algorithms for all applications?

Some of you are just out to attack this man for leaving a job he no longer wanted that you've sorted to making stuff up.

 

[pshufd]

He is "a" director; as in, one of many.

Which organization have you worked in that has only one director for anything exactly? Have you worked corporate job before?

Even in the field of ML, people tend to have specializations. People that have expertise in NLP may not know anything about GANs and vice versa.

Do you have any idea how much time one would need to master all branches of mathematics and statistics that make for effective ML algorithms for all applications?

Some of you are just out to attack this man for leaving a job he no longer wanted that you've sorted to making stuff up.

At my former job, my manager's manager was a director. And that guy had reports who weren't managers. We had VPs and SVPs as well. A director isn't necessarily that high up in management. It does sound nice though. There's also the title of Managing Director and I assume that the Managing Director is somewhere between Director and VP.

 

[pshufd]

Maybe Rene Ritchie is reading this thread:

 

[rafark]

Apple's director of machine learning, Ian Goodfellow, has resigned from his role a little over four years after he joined the company after previously being one of Google's top AI employees, according to The Verge's Zoë Schiffer.

Goodfellow reportedly broke the news to staff in an email, saying his resignation is in part due to Apple's plan to return to in-person work, which required employees to work from the office at least one day per week by April 11, at least two days per week by May 2, and at least three days per week by May 23. "I believe strongly that more flexibility would have been the best policy for my team," Goodfellow said in the email.

Apple employees began returning to Apple Park last month, with the three-day in-office work policy being enacted on May 23. Some employees have been unhappy about the plan to return to in-person work.

In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook during the summer, a group of employees said "Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple. This is a decision none of us take lightly, and a decision many would prefer not to have to make."

Article Link: Apple's Director of Machine Learning Resigns Due to Return to Office Work

Don’t forget to close the door on your way out

 

[pshufd]

Other Apple labor problems:

 

[pshufd]

In China too:

 

[FriendlyMackle]

Better than Google Meet at least.

I never even considered using Google Meet. Unfortunately, my company uses Google’s professional suite (email) and Google Meet always tries to insert itself into my Calendar invitations. Very annoying. I use Zoom, and I really like the ease of use and functionality.

 

[Itinj24]

He is "a" director; as in, one of many.

Which organization have you worked in that has only one director for anything exactly? Have you worked corporate job before?

Even in the field of ML, people tend to have specializations. People that have expertise in NLP may not know anything about GANs and vice versa.

Do you have any idea how much time one would need to master all branches of mathematics and statistics that make for effective ML algorithms for all applications?

Some of you are just out to attack this man for leaving a job he no longer wanted that you've sorted to making stuff up.

But… he could have involvement with broken iOS features. You don’t know that either. So what makes you right?

 

[Itinj24]

At my former job, my manager's manager was a director. And that guy had reports who weren't managers. We had VPs and SVPs as well. A director isn't necessarily that high up in management. It does sound nice though. There's also the title of Managing Director and I assume that the Managing Director is somewhere between Director and VP.

Everyone is referring to him as a Top Apple Exec.

So which is it? Is he that important or is he just one of many directors?

 

[pshufd]

Everyone is referring to him as a Top Apple Exec.

So which is it? Is he that important or is he just one of many directors?

An exec would have a VP title.

I worked in a building of a couple of hundred engineers. We had probably 15 directors, one VP and one Senior VP that I knew of. The VP was recent. The Senior VP worked there since the 1980s.

I'd say that his work was very important - take a look at a list of his publications. It's a really huge list for someone in the real world. In a lot of cases, someone with a serious research background has to manage a team as well as research doesn't necessarily result in products or features. It's like academia - you may think that your college professor is really awful at teaching. He's actually there to do research - he just teaching because he has to but it's not his main interest.

 

[MacBH928]

Pretty close. Many shops were on the ground floor, with the living quarters (bedrooms) directly overhead, and the kids helping with various chores around the shop. Separate "living rooms" were a luxury.

this is more of living at work than working from home. So the modern case, this Apple employee should have his bedroom next to his Apple Park office than go back home and work from there.

 

[Adamantoise]

But… he could have involvement with broken iOS features. You don’t know that either. So what makes you right?

What makes me right? What am I supposed to be right about exactly?

Unlike you I haven't made any statements assuming what he worked on. I've only pointed out that baselessly blaming him for Siri simply highlights how little a lot of you actually know about machine learning.

 

[Adamantoise]

Everyone is referring to him as a Top Apple Exec.

So which is it? Is he that important or is he just one of many directors?

Lol. You've never worked a corporate job have you?

You don't seem to know the difference between executive and director.

Again, most of you upset about a stranger choosing to exercise his options just appear bitter that some people have it better off than you. This is all just jealously if I'm being completely honest.

I'm truly surprised how many of you are actually incensed over a person you don't even know making choices that they think is right for them when it comes to their career.

 

[Itinj24]

Lol. You've never worked a corporate job have you?

You don't seem to know the difference between executive and director.

Again, most of you upset about a stranger choosing to exercise his options just appear bitter that some people have it better off than you. This is all just jealously if I'm being completely honest.

I'm truly surprised how many of you are actually incensed over a person you don't even know making choices that they think is right for them when it comes to their career.

Umm, here are the top stories from a Google search. They refer to him as “Exec” “Chief” “Director.” I’m sorry if I’ve offended your idol. You seem to have strong feeling for him. He definitely has it way better than me. I’m just a little nobody that lives in my mom’s basement apartment.

 

[Itinj24]

What makes me right? What am I supposed to be right about exactly?

Unlike you I haven't made any statements assuming what he worked on. I've only pointed out that baselessly blaming him for Siri simply highlights how little a lot of you actually know about machine learning.

I don’t need to know about machine learning. I am not employed as such by a tech giant. All I know is Siri has been awful the past year and Siri uses machine learning. Most of iOS 15 has been a disaster for that matter. It’s not my business to know exactly who does what at Apple but I’ll criticize every single one of them that hasn’t released a product that works as advertised. Probably because of working from home.

 

[Itinj24]

An exec would have a VP title.

I worked in a building of a couple of hundred engineers. We had probably 15 directors, one VP and one Senior VP that I knew of. The VP was recent. The Senior VP worked there since the 1980s.

I'd say that his work was very important - take a look at a list of his publications. It's a really huge list for someone in the real world. In a lot of cases, someone with a serious research background has to manage a team as well as research doesn't necessarily result in products or features. It's like academia - you may think that your college professor is really awful at teaching. He's actually there to do research - he just teaching because he has to but it's not his main interest.

Just going by the top Google stories and how they refer to him…

 

[Adamantoise]

Umm, here are the top stories from a Google search. They refer to him as “Exec” “Chief” “Director.” I’m sorry if I’ve offended your idol. You seem to have strong feeling for him. He definitely has it way better than me. I’m just a little nobody that lives in my mom’s basement apartment.

I just think people should mind their own business is all. It's actually really easy to do.

Here is a guy making choices that he feels are right for him and then you've got people on the internet with nothing better to do complaining about a stranger's choice that doesn't even affect their lives.

Please let it sink in just how pathetic that is, especially when it's coming from a place of envy.

I don’t need to know about machine learning. I am not employed as such by a tech giant. All I know is Siri has been awful the past year and Siri uses machine learning. Most of iOS 15 has been a disaster for that matter. It’s not my business to know exactly who does what at Apple but I’ll criticize every single one of them that hasn’t released a product that works as advertised. Probably because of working from home.

Yeah got it. You just like to talk about things you evidently know nothing about.

The audience of MacRumors isn't what I thought it was.

 

[Itinj24]

I just think people should mind their own business is all. It's actually really easy to do.

Here is a guy making choices that he feels are right for him and then you've got people on the internet with nothing better to do complaining about a stranger's choice that doesn't even affect their lives.

Please let it sink in just how pathetic that is, especially when it's coming from a place of envy.



Yeah got it. You just like to talk about things you evidently know nothing about.

The audience of MacRumors isn't what I thought it was.

Settle down a bit. You’re getting worked up over nothing. It’s the internet. This place is filled with crazy opinions, especially when they’re not yours, ya know? Also, I’m sorry but I didn’t realize that being an expert in GAN and Machine Learning was a prerequisite to joining MacRumors so my bad for that. I’ll just go ahead and rescind my membership. You can always block me too. I mean, I’ll probably be upset for a few days but time will eventually heal.

Heads up, this was a story reported by every tech news outlet and then some. If you want this guy’s business being to himself, then you definitely should rethink coming onto the internet.

You’ve been condescending and trying to hurt my feelings from the very beginning and that makes me upset 😢

 

[pshufd]

Umm, here are the top stories from a Google search. They refer to him as “Exec” “Chief” “Director.” I’m sorry if I’ve offended your idol. You seem to have strong feeling for him. He definitely has it way better than me. I’m just a little nobody that lives in my mom’s basement apartment.

View attachment 2003603View attachment 2003604View attachment 2003602

A chief would refer to a title like Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer. Those titles are President or Vice President roles. A Director is lower than a Chief xxx Officer, President or Vice President.

Reporters may not know the distinctions either.

I imagine that a lot of employees may not know the titles as well unless they have involvement at this level or have a business degree.

 

[ian87w]

I currently using a company for software support who now works from home, the left and doesn't know what the right hand is doing, they are terrible. When they were in the same building there was a much better link-up between each team. So for the company owners saving money, they have just made their company worse.

That's a management/HR issue. If you plainly put people to work at home without actually adapting your company's SOP/KPIs or providing them proper tools, of course it won't work. But that's not an excuse to vilify WFH. That just means management is not doing their job.

If companies can outsource so many jobs overseas, there's no reason to keep employees wasting their time commuting to the office. Set proper SOPs and KPIs, and have HR actually do their job in retaining talents instead of maintaining status quo.

 

[dysamoria]

There is actually quite a bit of research in this area:

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has plunged countries across the world into crisis. Both in the general population and in specific subgroups such as infected people or health care workers, studies have reported increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. However, the reactions of individuals with mental disorders to Covid-19 have largely been neglected. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the perceived impact of Covid-19 and its psychological consequences on people with mental disorders. In this online survey, participants were asked to evaluate their disorder-specific symptoms, perceived psychosocial stress and behaviors related to Covid-19 in the current situation and retrospectively before the spread of Covid-19. The study included participants with self-identified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and agoraphobia (PA), illness anxiety disorder (IA), social anxiety disorder (SAD), depression (DP), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), eating disorders (ED), schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (SP), other non-specified mental disorder (other) as well as mentally healthy controls (HC). The results of bayesian parameter estimation suggest that the symptom severity of DP, GAD, IA and BDD has deteriorated as a reaction to Covid-19. Across all mental disorders and HC, self-reported psychosocial stress levels were higher during the outbreak of Covid-19 compared to before. A reduced frequency of social contacts and grocery shopping was found for all participants. People with self-identified mental disorders showed higher personal worries about Covid-19 and a higher fear of contagion with Covid-19 than did HC. According to our findings, Covid-19 may reinforce symptom severity and psychosocial stress in individuals with mental disorders. In times of pandemics, special support is needed to assist people with mental disorders and to prevent symptom deterioration.

Perceived Impact of Covid-19 Across Different Mental Disorders: A Study on Disorder-Specific Symptoms, Psychosocial Stress and Behavior - PubMed

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has plunged countries across the world into crisis. Both in the general population and in specific subgroups such as infected people or health care workers, studies have reported increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to being a global health emergency, has multiple socioeconomic and psychological ramifications. COVID-19 research and media reports have revealed a rise in fears related to contracting the virus. Though fear is a common psychological outcome during pandemics, the COVID-19 pandemic is a continuously evolving disease outbreak and has unique risk factors. Therefore, fear related to COVID-19 might manifest in not only fear and anxiety related to disease contraction and dying, but also associated sociooccupational stress. We attempt to understand the psychosocial process of the development of coronaphobia and postulate what constitutes coronaphobia, a new emerging phobia specific to COVID-19. We present a conceptual model delineating the risk factors causing coronaphobia and the underlying mechanisms, for a better understanding of its developmental process. From review of relevant research, the factors identified are, an unforeseen reality, unending uncertainties, need of acquiring new practices and avoidance behavior, loss of faith in health infrastructure, contraction of COVID-19 by head of states, cautionary statements from international bodies, and infodemia. These factors are assumed to cause interference with routine life, catastrophizing interpretation of benign symptoms, and social amplification of risk which lead to coronaphobia. The conceptualization of coronaphobia and the model will aid future research in developing psychometric measure of coronaphobia for use in clinical and research settings and design of policies and interventions for mitigating risk factors.

Understanding coronaphobia

COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to being a global health emergency, has multiple socioeconomic and psychological ramifications. COVID-19 research and media reports have revealed a rise in fears related to contracting the virus. Though fear is a common ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This reminds me of how the USA pays more attention to symptoms than to causes. A million people have died, many more are going to have long-term consequences of their infections, society has been gaslit and abused by authorities like never before... etc.

As a person who has had his human emotions and responses to traumatic events marginalized and pathologized for the sale of "mental health services" and chemicals, I'm wary of perfectly human responses to legitimately traumatizing events in other people being pathologized for political interest. There's perfectly legitimate cause for people to be reacting with trauma behaviors.

 

[dysamoria]

So you agree with Apple's policy of 60% in the office and 40% at home?

Because a lot of people here seems to disagree with Apple. If they do, then they must believe that 60% is too much.
So what percentage should Apple enforce according to you?

Irrelevant. I never once expressed an opinion about the percentages one way or another (except to point out to one guy cherry-picking numbers for his anti-worker argumentation). The specific policy is not why I'm in this thread. I'm here to push against the ludicrous anti-worker hostility aimed at this one now-former Apple employee.