Google drops pledge not to use AI for weapons, surveillance

In its updated ethics policy on the potent technology, Google has made a pledge not to use artificial intelligence for weapons or surveillance.
The California-based internet giant made a commitment not to pursue AI technologies that “cause or are likely to cause overall harm,” including weapons and surveillance that violate “internationally accepted norms” in its previous version of “AI Principles.”
The company’s revised policy, which was released on Tuesday, does not include the company’s previous language regarding weapons or surveillance but states that it pursues AI “responsibly” and in accordance with “widely accepted principles of international law and human rights.”
In a blog post announcing the updated policy, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and research labs senior vice president James Manyika wrote, “We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by fundamental values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights.”
“And we believe that companies, governments, and organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security”.
Google did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
After employees objected to Google’s participation in Project Maven, a project funded by the US Department of Defense, which examined the use of AI to aid in the military’s identification of targets for drone strikes, in 2018, Google first made its list of AI principles public.
Following the backlash, which saw a number of employees resign and thousands of others sign a petition criticizing the company’s involvement in the project, Google decided not to renew its contract with the Pentagon.
The tech giant said later that year that it would no longer compete for a $10 billion contract with the Pentagon because it “couldn’t be assured” that its AI principles would be followed.
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of parent company Alphabet Inc., joined tech leaders including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg to attend the US President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. This is in response to Google’s updated ethics policy.
Former US President Joe Biden’s executive order, which established certain safeguards for the rapidly expanding technology, was voided by Trump shortly after taking office.
Source: Aljazeera
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