In a major shift to its artificial intelligence (AI) ethics policy, Google has removed previous commitments not to use AI for weapons development or surveillance purposes. The change marks a departure from the company's 2018 stance when it first published its AI principles.
The updated policy, announced Tuesday, replaces specific prohibitions with broader language about pursuing AI "responsibly" while adhering to "widely accepted principles of international law and human rights." This revision comes amid increasing global competition in AI development.
Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis and research labs senior vice president James Manyika emphasized in a joint blog post that democratic nations should lead AI advancement, guided by values like freedom and human rights. They advocated for collaboration between companies and governments to develop AI that supports national security while protecting people.
The policy change represents a stark contrast to Google's previous position. In 2018, following employee protests over the company's involvement in the Pentagon's Project Maven, Google declined to renew its military contract. Project Maven used AI to assist in analyzing drone footage for potential military targets. The controversy led to staff resignations and thousands of employees signing protest petitions.
At that time, Google also withdrew from competing for a $10 billion Pentagon cloud computing contract, citing concerns about alignment with its then-strict AI principles.
The timing of this policy update coincides with broader changes in the tech industry's approach to AI regulation. Recently, tech leaders including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai attended meetings with government officials, highlighting the increasing intersection between tech companies and national security interests.
This shift occurs as Google plans to invest $75 billion in AI projects this year, focusing on infrastructure, research, and applications like the AI-powered Gemini platform. The company faces ongoing internal tensions, particularly regarding government contracts, as demonstrated by recent employee protests over Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government.
The revised principles reflect Google's expanding ambitions to offer AI services to a broader range of clients, including government agencies, while positioning itself in what industry leaders describe as a global race for AI supremacy.