From ethics to war: the shift in Google's approach to AI development

Google has made a significant shift in its policy regarding artificial intelligence (AI) development, removing its previous commitment not to engage in the creation of dangerous technologies, including weapons.

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This change occurs in a context where the company had promised, in previous versions of its AI principles, that it would not develop technology whose main purpose was to cause harm to people or facilitate surveillance that violated internationally accepted standards.

Google forced to bet on business, against its foundational values

In 2018, Google declined to renew its contract with the government for ‘Project Maven’, which focused on drone surveillance analysis, and did not participate in a cloud contract related to the Pentagon, citing ethical concerns.

However, in 2022, it was discovered that Google’s involvement in ‘Project Nimbus’ had raised concerns about the possible facilitation of human rights violations, leading to internal tensions and protests among the company’s employees.

The CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has stated that democracies must lead the development of AI in an environment where there is fear of an arms race.

His statement comes amid fears that AI technology could be used in warfare, such as in the creation of super soldiers, which resonates with the idea of a possible global confrontation, especially between the United States and China.

As the United States government seeks to partner more with tech giants to enhance its military capabilities, there are questions about whether technology should focus on improving the world or on maximizing profits through government contracts.

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As Google seeks new opportunities in this field, the international community watches with concern the ethical and social implications of these developments.