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After recording an episode of Equity, I was astonished by the new wave of ignorance in the tech industry. The DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) allergy is at its peak, with leaders in Silicon Valley proudly displaying their “meritocracy” banners. Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang has decided to replace DEI with his new acronym MEI: merit, excellence, and intelligence. This move made me cringe so hard that I might need a chiropractor.
I extend a strong invitation to Wang and his supporters to completely depart. It is important to clarify that there is no room for partial departure — the request is for a complete departure. The ignorance was met with enthusiastic applause from tech titans like Elon Musk on X, while LinkedIn’s startup community rolled their eyes to the extreme.
Critics argue that Wang’s post lacks understanding by ignoring systemic barriers and oversimplifying social dynamics into a naive ideal of meritocratic purity. Meanwhile, at Scale AI’s headquarters, annotators in economically challenged areas work for pay that would barely cover a decent brunch in Silicon Valley. Yet, the focus remains on “objective” hiring practices as the savior from the challenges of fairness and inclusion.
<Steps off soapbox and sets aside the rapid-dispensing box of strong language.>
Yours sincerely,
Haje
(@Haje on X. Feel free not to message me about your thoughts on the above. Also: The above thoughts are mine and do not necessarily reflect the stance of TechCrunch or any other writers, as is typical in opinionated articles.)
Most interesting startup stories from the week
Ever wondered what keeps a top-tier venture capitalist up at night? Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and Khosla Ventures, shared his biggest worry recently, which surprisingly isn’t related to his successful $50 million investment in OpenAI. Connie’s conversation with Khosla sheds light on AI’s future, regulatory challenges, and Europe’s tech scene lagging behind. Prepare for an insightful and entertaining discussion!
- It puts the lotion in the basket: Scientists have developed a robot with living skin that can stretch and be manipulated, adding a creepy twist to technology.
- Rirelgvat vf svar, ubarfgyl*: Telegram’s founder revealed intriguing insights about their lean team structure, raising eyebrows in the tech community.
- Hey, Butch, you did buy return tickets, right?: Boeing’s Starliner capsule faces delays in its return from space, showcasing the challenges of space travel.
Most interesting fundraises this week
Volkswagen is investing up to $5 billion in Rivian’s software development, heralding a fruitful partnership in the electric vehicle space. This collaboration promises a mutual exchange of technology expertise that could redefine the automotive industry.
Instead of traditional summer activities, two 18-year-olds are securing investments for their AI-powered startup, challenging the norms of entrepreneurship.
- Coming in hot: Zepto secures $665 million to revolutionize quick delivery services for groceries and electronics.
- Much CRM. Such smart: Christopher O’Donnell returns with an AI-based CRM solution to enhance productivity.
- The $50 million buy-now button: Daydream aims to simplify e-commerce searches with a significant seed funding injection.
Other unmissable TechCrunch stories …
Here are some additional TechCrunch stories that capture intriguing developments in the tech world:
- Stop, collaborate, and listen*: OpenAI acquires Multi, expanding its tech capabilities.
- Simply? The best!*: Anthropic unveils an advanced AI model for text and image analysis.
- Boulevard of Broken Dreams*: Fisker’s bankruptcy case heats up with legal battles over assets.
- Come and keep your comrade warm*: Kaspersky faces a ban due to national security concerns.
- Everything’s waiting for you*: Fearless Fund experiences internal changes amid challenges in venture capital for Black women.
