Feb 17, 2025 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Google's parent company Alphabet has ditched its promise to not use artificial intelligence (AI) in weapons systems or surveillance tools.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote a blog post outlining the company's "AI principles," in which he listed AI applications that the company would not pursue, which included "technologies that cause or are likely to cause overall harm," as well as weapons or other technologies "whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people," and technologies that are used for surveillance "violating internationally acceptable norms." However, the company's recently updated AI principles have dropped these sentiments.
Hassabis and Manyika wrote: "Since we first published our AI Principles in 2018, the technology has evolved rapidly. The post later adds: "There’s a global competition taking place for AI leadership within an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. 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 organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security."
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote a blog post outlining the company's "AI principles," in which he listed AI applications that the company would not pursue, which included "technologies that cause or are likely to cause overall harm," as well as weapons or other technologies "whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people," and technologies that are used for surveillance "violating internationally acceptable norms." However, the company's recently updated AI principles have dropped these sentiments.
Hassabis and Manyika wrote: "Since we first published our AI Principles in 2018, the technology has evolved rapidly. The post later adds: "There’s a global competition taking place for AI leadership within an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. 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 organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security."
The two wrote that the company will "continue to focus on AI research and applications that align with our mission, our scientific focus, and our areas of expertise, and stay consistent with widely accepted principles of international law and human rights." The company states that it will continue to have "specific product policies" and clear terms of use that "contain prohibitions like illegal use of our services."