Google parent Alphabet abandons pledge against AI weapon development

Alphabet, Google's parent company, has revised its AI ethics guidelines, removing the explicit prohibition against using AI for technologies like weapons and surveillance. The change was announced shortly before the company revealed lower-than-expected earnings.
Previously, Alphabet's guidelines stated it would not pursue AI that could "cause or are likely to cause overall harm." This language has now been removed. Google's AI chief, Demis Hassabis, explained the shift by citing the evolving landscape of AI and the importance of AI in protecting "national security."
In a blog post, Hassabis and James Manyika, Google's senior vice-president for technology and society, emphasized the increasing global competition in AI and asserted that "democracies should lead in AI development." They argued that collaboration between companies, governments, and organizations sharing democratic values is crucial for creating AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security.
This move represents a departure from Google's earlier "don't be evil" motto, which was later softened to a "mantra" and ultimately not included in Alphabet's code of ethics.
The rapid advancement of AI has sparked considerable debate regarding its governance and potential risks. Experts like Stuart Russell have warned about the dangers of autonomous weapons and advocated for international regulation.
Google's blog post highlighted the rapid evolution of AI since the company's initial principles were published in 2018. It emphasized the widespread adoption of AI in everyday life and its transformation into a general-purpose technology.

Following the announcement, Alphabet's shares dropped by 8% as Wall Street opened. The company's reported revenue of $96.5 billion fell slightly short of analysts' expectations, primarily due to slower growth in its cloud business, Google Cloud, which lags behind competitors like Amazon and Microsoft.
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)