Researchers at Google’s AI arm DeepMind, continue to raise alarm bells over the potential military applications of their work, particularly in relation to contracts with the Israeli government.
According to sources, at least 200 employees at Google DeepMind have expressed deep reservations about their parent company’s reported defense contracts, in particular its $1.2billion agreement to supply Israel with cloud computing services called Project Nimbus.
The controversy came to light when an internal letter, dated May 16, began circulating within the organization. The memo, signed by a significant number of staff members, highlighted growing unease about the company’s alleged involvement with military organizations.
The letter points to reports that the Israeli military uses AI for mass surveillance and to select bombing targets in Gaza, with Israeli weapon firms mandated by the government to purchase cloud services from Google and Amazon.
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The situation is particularly sensitive given the history between DeepMind and its parent company. When the AI lab was acquired by Google in 2014, assurances were made that its technology would never be used for military or surveillance purposes.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave souls that stand up for what is right.
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We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave souls that stand up for what is right.