SAN FRANCISCO, June 2 ― Google workers today got word that the internet titan will retreat from a deal to help the US military use artificial intelligence to analyse drone video following an outcry from staff, according to reports.
The collaboration with the US Department of Defence was said to have sparked rebellion inside the California-based company.
An internal petition calling for Google to stay out of “the business of war” garnered thousands of signatures, and some workers reportedly quit to protest a collaboration with the military.
The New York Times and tech news website Gizmodo cited unnamed sources as saying that a Google’s cloud team executive announced told employees today that the company would not seek to renew the controversial contract after it expires next year.
The contract was reported to be worth less than US$10 million (RM40 million) to Google, but was thought to have potential to lead to more lucrative technology collaborations with the military.
Google did not respond to a request for comment.
Google has remained mum about Project Maven, which reportedly uses machine learning and engineering talent to distinguish people and objects in drone videos for the Defence Department.
“We believe that Google should not be in the business of war,” the employee petition reads, according to copies posted online.
“Therefore, we ask that Project Maven be cancelled, and that Google draft, publicise and enforce a clear policy stating that neither Google nor its contractors will ever build warfare technology.”
