From PC Mag: After abandoning its involvement in a Pentagon project, Google has vowed to never develop AI technologies that can be used for war or surveillance.
Google's new policy around AI development is focused on building the technologies responsibly and limiting any potential misuse, the company said in a blog post.
No Google AI technology will ever be used as a weapon or for surveillance, the policy states. In addition, the company will refuse to develop any AI projects that will "cause or are likely to cause overall harm." Only when the benefits "substantially outweigh the risks" will the company proceed, but with safeguards in place.
The policy comes as Google employees reportedly pressured the tech giant to cancel its ongoing participation in Project Maven, a Pentagon effort to use AI to analyze footage from aerial drones. The company claimed that the research was for "non-offensive purposes," but some employees were afraid it could one day be used in actual warfare. In response, they circulated an internal letter, arguing that "Google should not be in the business of war."
Resistance to Project Maven was serious enough that at least a dozen staffers reportedly resigned in protest. To placate employees, Google promised a new ethics policy around AI development, which the company made public on Thursday.
View: Article @ Source Site
