Google Sets AI Ethics Rules, Vows No Weapons Development
Google publishes a new set of ethical principles for artificial intelligence, explicitly banning the technology's use in weapons and certain surveillance. The guidelines emerge after significant internal employee protests over a controversial Pentagon contract.
Google releases a new set of ethical principles for its artificial intelligence technology, explicitly stating that it will not use AI for weapons or surveillance that violates internationally accepted norms. CEO Sundar Pichai outlines these concrete standards to guide the company's research, product development, and business decisions moving forward. The guidelines mandate that AI should avoid creating unfair bias and include strong privacy safeguards.
These new rules emerge after months of intense internal controversy regarding Google's partnership with the Pentagon to analyze drone footage. Thousands of employees sign a petition urging the company to stay out of the "business of war," and dozens of workers resign in protest. Google ultimately decides not to renew the controversial military contract when it expires next year.
Despite the restrictions on weapons and harmful surveillance, the guidelines leave significant room for Google to pursue other government and military contracts in areas like cybersecurity and training. Additionally, the company softens its language regarding the enforcement of these principles, acknowledging that it cannot completely control all uses of its open-source AI software like TensorFlow.