Google staff challenge Pentagon project

Thousands of Google employees have signed an open letter asking the internet giant to stop working on a project for the US military. Project Maven involves using artificial intelligence to improve the precision of military drone strikes. Employees fear Google's involvement will "irreparably damage" its brand. "We believe that Google should not be in the business of war," says the letter, which is addressed to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai. "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."