I think Zac is trying to say they left not to protest, but instead because they didn’t think staying was viable (for whatever research and/or implementation they wanted to do).
On my views (not Zac’s), “staying wouldn’t be viable for someone who was willing to work in a potentially pretty unpleasant work environment and focus on implementation (and currently prepping for this implementation)” doesn’t seem like an accurate description of the situation. (See also Buck’s comment here.)
Many more than two safety-concerned people have left AI companies for reasons related to thinking that those companies are reckless.
I think Zac is trying to say they left not to protest, but instead because they didn’t think staying was viable (for whatever research and/or implementation they wanted to do).
On my views (not Zac’s), “staying wouldn’t be viable for someone who was willing to work in a potentially pretty unpleasant work environment and focus on implementation (and currently prepping for this implementation)” doesn’t seem like an accurate description of the situation. (See also Buck’s comment here.)