Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has lifted its ban on using artificial intelligence (AI) for the development of weapons and surveillance technologies, revising its long-standing policies. The company updated its guidelines on AI use, removing a section that previously prohibited applications deemed “likely to cause harm.”
In a blog post, Google defended this decision, emphasizing the need for collaboration between businesses and democratic governments to create AI systems that enhance national security. The company stated, “We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights. Companies, governments, and organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security.”
This change comes amid ongoing debates among AI experts about the governance of the technology, its commercialization, and how to mitigate potential risks to humanity. Controversy surrounds the use of AI in warfare and surveillance, with concerns about its ethical implications.
The blog post, written by senior vice president James Manyika and Demis Hassabis, head of Google DeepMind, explained that the company’s original AI principles, introduced in 2018, required updating due to the rapid evolution of AI technology. “AI has become a general-purpose technology, integral to everyday life for billions of people,” they wrote. “It has moved from a niche research topic to a platform as pervasive as mobile phones and the internet.”
As a result, Alphabet is working on baseline AI principles to guide strategies for the technology’s use across industries.
Initially, Google’s founders, Sergei Brin and Larry Page, adopted the “don’t be evil” motto for the company, later evolving to “Do the right thing” when Alphabet was formed in 2015. This shift came after internal pushback against the company’s direction, including in 2018, when Google decided not to renew an AI contract with the US Pentagon following employee resignations and a petition over concerns about “Project Maven,” which many believed would lead to the use of AI for lethal purposes.
The blog post was published shortly before Alphabet’s financial report, which showed weaker-than-expected results, impacting its share price. However, the company reported a 10% increase in revenue from digital advertising, driven by US election spending. Alphabet also announced plans to invest $75 billion in AI projects this year, a 29% increase over previous expectations, focusing on AI infrastructure, research, and applications like AI-powered search.
