Google owner drops promise not to use AI for weapons

The Google owner, Alphabet, has dropped its pledge not to use artificial intelligence for purposes such as developing weapons and surveillance tools. The US technology company said on Tuesday, just before it reported lower than forecast earnings, that it had updated its ethical guidelines around AI, and they no longer refer to not pursuing technologies that could "cause or are likely to cause overall harm". Google's AI head, Demis Hassabis, said the guidelines were being overhauled in a changing world and that AI should protect "national security". In a blogpost defending the move, Hassabis and the company's senior vice-president for technology and society, James Manyika, wrote that as global competition for AI leadership increases, the company believes "democracies should lead in AI development" that is guided by "freedom, equality, and respect for human rights". They added: "We believe that companies, governments, and organisations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security."