Google's parent company, Alphabet, has revoked its longstanding ban on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for weapons and surveillance, a move deemed "incredibly concerning" by a prominent human rights group.
The revision of Alphabet's AI usage guidelines omits the clause that previously prohibited applications deemed "likely to cause harm."
Human Rights Watch criticized the decision, citing AI's potential to complicate accountability in military decision-making with life-or-death consequences.
Leading experts caution that widespread deployment of AI on the battlefield could introduce risks, especially concerning autonomous weapons systems.
Senior AI researcher at Human Rights Watch, Anna Bacciarelli, expressed alarm over Alphabet abandoning its self-imposed restrictions, emphasizing the need for responsible AI leadership.
Alphabet's decision to lift the ban underscores the necessity for regulatory frameworks instead of reliance on voluntary principles, as highlighted by Bacciarelli.
Alphabet, in a blog post co-authored by senior executives, emphasized the importance of democratic leadership in AI development guided by core values such as freedom, equality, and human rights.
The blog acknowledged the evolving nature of technology and the need to update AI principles to stay aligned with current advancements.
Increased awareness of AI's military applications has prompted calls for regulation to prevent autonomous AI-powered weapons with lethal capacities.
Questions have arisen over the role and decision-making autonomy of machines in military settings, prompting concerns about potential mass-scale casualties.
Originally guided by the motto "don't be evil," Google, now under Alphabet, shifted its ethos to "Do the right thing," prompting internal resistance from employees wary of AI's lethal implications.
Despite weaker-than-expected financial results, Alphabet plans to increase its investment in AI projects this year, focusing on AI infrastructure, research, and applications to enhance AI-powered services like search.