Srinivas's offer was heavily criticised on social media, with many accusing him of undermining the strike and the collective bargaining efforts of the NYT tech staff. Srinivas later clarified that his offer was not meant to replace the striking workers but to provide additional support on a high-traffic day. The controversy continues as the NYT Tech Guild's strike is set to persist through the election period.
Key takeaways:
- Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI search company Perplexity, offered services to the New York Times (NYT) during a tech workers' strike, sparking controversy on social media.
- The strike by the NYT Tech Guild began on November 4, with demands including a 2.5% annual wage increase, a limit of two in-office days per week, protections against layoffs, and better remote work terms.
- Srinivas' offer was criticized as an attempt to undermine the strike and the collective bargaining efforts of the NYT tech staff, with some accusing him of acting as a 'scab.'
- The NYT Tech Guild’s strike is set to continue through the US presidential election period, marking the first time in 60 years that the NewsGuild has taken such action during a presidential election.