Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday announced that Google is banning the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software that could be used in weapons or harm others. The company has set strict standards for ethical and safe development of AI. "We recognize that such powerful technology raises equally powerful questions about its use," Pichai said in a blog post. "As a leader in AI, we feel a deep responsibility to get this right. So today, we're announcing seven principles to guide our work going forward. These are not theoretical concepts; they are concrete standards that will actively govern our research and product development and will impact our business decisions."

Google has promised not to use AI for weapons, following protests over its partnership with the US military. A decision to provide machine-learning tools to analyse drone footage caused some employees to resign. Google told employees last week it would not renew its contract with the US Department of Defense when it expires next year. It has now said it will not use AI for technology that causes injury to people. The new guidelines for AI use were outlined in a blog post from chief executive Sundar Pichai. When Google revealed that it had signed a contract to share its AI technology with the Pentagon, a number of employees resigned and thousands of others signed a protest petition.