Hundreds of Google employees have asked management to prohibit the Pentagon from using the company's artificial intelligence (AI) technology for classified work. This was reported by The Washington Post, which reviewed a letter addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
The letter, signed by more than 600 employees, mostly from the company's DeepMind AI division, notes that AI should “be for the benefit of humanity”, and not be used in inhumane or extremely harmful ways“. Specifically, this refers to the use of lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. “The only way to ensure that Google is not associated with such evil“ is to not enter into any agreements with the military that would allow the company's AI to be used for classified purposes, the letter said.
The call comes amid claims that AI is “increasingly becoming a central element of modern warfare“. This has fueled a debate in the tech industry over whether AI companies or their employees “should have a say in how the military uses their technology“, the publication notes.
Pentagon leadership recently announced that it should be free to use commercial AI technology “for all lawful purposes“, WP reports. This approach, officials say, allows for flexibility in different situations while remaining within the framework of US law and military procedures.