Weapons and Google AI: A Dramatic Change of Direction

Alphabet, Google's parent company, has dropped its commitment not to develop AI for military or surveillance purposes. The company updated its ethical guidelines, removing the provision prohibiting the development of technologies that could cause significant harm.

Why Google has changed its position on AI and weapons

Demis Hassabis, head of Google's AI, defended the decision, arguing that AI should support national security. In a blog post co-authored with vice-president James Manyika, he stressed that democracies should lead AI development in accordance with principles of freedom and human rights.

The company also pointed out that AI has become a ubiquitous technology, with applications across the world. However, the removal of the restriction has fuelled debate about AI risks, with experts such as Stuart Russell warning of the dangers of autonomous weapons.

Google and Wall Street

Meanwhile, Alphabet's shares fell by 8% on Wall Street following weaker-than-expected financial results, with revenue of $96.5 billion. Growth in Google's cloud division slowed, leaving it behind Amazon and Microsoft. The company announced plans to invest $75 billion in expanding its AI infrastructure.

Source: The Guardian