Google has established a new code of conduct regarding its approach to artificial intelligence, which includes a ban on AI- based weapons .
This announcement comes after the company's employees strongly protested its participation in Project Maven, a collaborative project in which the US military intends to use Google's AI technology to launch a Cross-Function Algorithmic Warfare team.
News of such a partnership raised fears about how the technology could help automate warfare in the future, and after facing pressure from both employees and others, Google ultimately said it would not renew its contract.
In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a set of seven new principles to guide the company's use of AI. The guiding principles state that Google's use of AI should be:
Beneficial for society
Avoid algorithmic bias
To check security
Be accountable to the public
To be trustworthy
To maintain scientific progress
To be at the disposal of purposes that are consistent with the same principles
He also noted that although the company will not use AI to create weapons, it will continue to “work with governments and militaries in many other areas” that include cybersecurity, education, and search and rescue.
Pichai also said that Google would avoid developing any surveillance technology that would violate internationally accepted human rights norms or anything that violates international laws.
Artificial intelligence is permeating every aspect of social life, and the military uses of AI are no secret, with more and more companies looking to sell AI technology. However, it seems that even though Google has abandoned its “Don’t be evil” motto, it continues to maintain its idealistic culture.
