At least 200 employees at DeepMind, Google’s AI research and development division, have expressed their dissatisfaction with Google’s involvement in defense contracts. According to a report by Time, these employees circulated a letter internally in May voicing their concerns.
The letter, dated May 16, specifically addresses the issue of Google’s contracts with military organizations. It references news articles that detail the tech giant’s agreements to provide AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli military. The signatories of the letter argue that such involvement contradicts Google’s mission statement and its stated AI Principles, which emphasize ethical and responsible AI usage.
The letter states, “Any involvement with military and weapon manufacturing impacts our position as leaders in ethical and responsible AI, and goes against our mission statement and stated AI Principles.” This sentiment reflects a broader unease among some employees about Google’s direction, especially in light of its 2018 pledge that DeepMind’s technology would never be used for military or surveillance purposes.
Though the 200 signatories represent a small fraction of DeepMind’s overall workforce, their memo suggests a significant cultural divide between Google and its AI-focused subsidiary. This tension comes amid increasing scrutiny of tech companies’ roles in military and surveillance activities, and it highlights the challenges Google faces in balancing its commercial interests with ethical considerations in AI development.
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