The Pentagon's Controversial Drone AI-Imaging Project Extends Beyond Google

Google has pressed forward with its effort to provide artificial intelligence solutions to the Department of Defense, despite an internal employee petition against the company's involvement in a pilot program that analyzes drone footage using AI and the resignations of around a dozen employees who objected to the program. But Google isn't the only company partnering with the Department of Defense on Project Maven--the artificial intelligence pilot program at the heart of the controversy--and the Pentagon has explored the possibility of working with other major tech firms on Project Maven. The involvement of other tech companies in Project Maven makes the project seem more like a bakeoff between several leaders in the field of artificial intelligence and less like a Google-led effort. It also raises questions about whether employees at other companies will raise the same ethical objections to the program that Google employees have. DigitalGlobe, a Colorado-based firm that specializes in geospatial imagery, reportedly provides images and algorithms to Project Maven. IBM has been approached about participating in the project by using artificial intelligence to analyze streaming video, a person familiar with the exchange told Gizmodo.