Google Deletes Pledge to Refrain from AI Weapon Development from Website
This week, Google removed a commitment from its website that previously stated it would not engage in developing AI technologies for military or surveillance applications. Bloomberg was the first to report this change. The company seems to have revised its public AI principles page, eliminating a section titled “applications we will not pursue,” which was there just a week ago.
When asked for comment, Google directed TechCrunch to a recent blog post discussing “responsible AI.” This post touches on various topics, emphasizing that “we believe that companies, governments, and organizations that uphold these values should work together to develop AI that safeguards individuals, fosters global growth, and strengthens national security.”
The updated AI principles from Google underscore the company’s commitment to “mitigate unintended or harmful outcomes and prevent unfair bias,” while ensuring its operations align with “widely recognized principles of international law and human rights.”
In recent years, Google has faced internal dissent from employees over its contracts to deliver cloud services to U.S. and Israeli military forces. Although the company maintains that its AI does not cause harm to individuals, the Pentagon’s AI director recently indicated to TechCrunch that some of Google’s AI systems are facilitating the U.S. military’s kill chain.