Alphabet, the owner of Google, has removed a commitment to not use artificial intelligence for developing weapons and surveillance tools.
U.S. tech companies revised ethical guidelines for AI just before reporting lower than expected revenue on Tuesday, citing technologies that have “caused overall harm or harm”. They stated they no longer abided by the previous commitment.
Google’s AI chief, Demis Hassabis, emphasized the changing guidelines in a world where AI should also protect “national security”.
In a Blogpost discussing the issue, James Manica, a senior vice president of societal and societal affairs, argues that as the global competition for AI leadership intensifies, democracy should guide AI development while protecting human rights.
They added, “We believe that companies, governments, and organizations that share these values should collaborate to protect individuals, promote global development, and create AI that supports national security.”
The original motto of Google was “Don’t be evil”, which was later downgraded to a “mantra” in 2009 and included in Alphabet’s ethical guidelines when the parent company was established in 2015.
The rapid advancement of AI has sparked discussions on how to govern new technologies and mitigate risks.
British computer scientist Stuart Russell warned about the dangers of developing autonomous weapon systems during a REITH lecture on the BBC, advocating for a global control system.
The Google Blogpost argues that technology has evolved significantly since the company first introduced AI principles in 2018. Hassabis and Manica highlight the widespread use of AI in everyday life, emphasizing its role as a general-purpose technology used by various organizations and individuals to create applications.
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“AI has transitioned from a niche research area to a technology as ubiquitous as mobile phones and the Internet itself. It has numerous practical applications for people.
Google’s stock dropped by 7.5% after hours following the Tuesday report, which indicated slightly lower-than-expected revenue of $96.5 billion (£77 billion) compared to analysts’ forecast of $96.67 billion.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
