Google has reviewed its position in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), removing the promise not to apply AI for military and intelligence purposes. The previous rules introduced in 2018 were updated and published in the official blog of the company, reports The Washington Post.
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Earlier, the company stated that it would not be engaged in four categories of AI: weapons, surveillance, technologies “capable of harm”, and projects that violate international law and human law. These restrictions made Google an exception among the leaders of the AI market. For example, Microsoft and Amazon have been cooperating with the Pentagon for a long time. Their example was followed by OpenAi and Anthropic, which collaborate with defense contractors of the United States, such as anduril and Palateir.
According to experts, Google’s decision reflects the growing importance of AI for the US national defense. Professor of political science Michael Horowitz from Pennsylvania University noted that this is a logical step, since AI technologies are becoming more and more important for the American army. “The Google statement is another evidence that relations between the US technological sector and the Ministry of Defense continue to become more closely, including leading companies in the field of AI,” said Gorovits.
However, critics, such as Lilly Irani, a former Google employee and professor of the University of California at San Diego, believe that “the company’s promises to observe international laws and human rights are often empty words.”
Recall that Google first introduced ethical principles after employees’ protests against a contract with a Pentagon, known as Project Maven. This project involved the use of computer vision algorithms to analyze data from drones. Then thousands of workers signed a petition, demanding to stop the company’s participation in military projects, which Google did, refusing not only from the contract, but also promising not to participate in the development of weapons. However, a new change in policy indicates that the company’s priorities have changed.