Google’s parent company ends ban on AI weapons amid global unease
Google owner Alphabet retracts promise not to use artificial intelligence (AI) for weapons development.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has raised international alarm by reneging on its promise to refrain from using AI in the creation of weaponry and surveillance systems.
In 2018, the technology giant implemented policies that prohibited the use of AI in ways that could “cause or are likely to cause overall harm”. However, as of Tuesday 4th February, Alphabet guidelines no longer include this wording.
In a blog post published the same day, the company’s head of AI, Sir Demis Hassabis, and its senior vice president for technology and society, James Manyika, defended the change, arguing that an update was needed to keep pace with the rapidly advancing technology.
"There’s a global competition taking place for AI leadership within an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape,” they wrote. “We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights. And we believe that companies, governments, and organisations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security.”
Despite the numerous reassurances provided throughout the blog, many prominent individuals in the AI field and beyond are worried.
Human Rights Watch voiced its concern to the BBC, contending that AI can “complicate accountability” on the battlefield that “may have life or death consequences”.
Matt Mahmoudi, researcher and advisor on AI and human rights, also questioned the decision. He stated: “It’s a shame that Google has chosen to set this dangerous precedent, after years of recognising that their AI programme should not be used in ways that could contribute to human rights violations.”
Alphabet’s omission comes as interested parties from across the globe get ready to gather in Paris for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. In a safety report due to be presented at the summit, Canadian computer scientist and deep learning expert Yoshua Bengio warns of the dangers of “superhuman systems” and unchecked investment as countries battle for AI supremacy.
"The effort is going into who's going to win the race, rather than how do we make sure we are not going to build something that blows up in our face," Mr Bengio says.
Hassabis and Manyika’s blog was published just before Alphabet’s year-end financial report, which revealed that the company had fallen marginally short of its Q4 revenue target.
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