While critics argued that Google was stepping closer to the “business of war” due to a contract with the US Defense Department, the company has responded by banning development for AI that could be used for weapons.
As AI becomes more and more powerful, Google’s leaders have shown their concerns by preventing the creation of AI software which can be used for weapons. The action is considered to set a new ethical guideline to technology companies around the world seeking for superiority in self-driving cars, automated assistants, robotics and military AI.
According to the Independent, to prevent AI from becoming harmful for international law and human rights, Google asserted that the company will not persist in developing AI. The Independent states, however, that cybersecurity, training, veterans’ health care, search and rescue, and military recruitment are some spheres in which Google is going to cooperate with governments.
It is unclear how the company would seek to follow its rules under the principle. Seven core tenets for AI application are referenced by chief executive Sundar Pichai, consisting of being socially beneficial, being built and tested for safety, and avoiding creating or reinforcing unfair bias. The company is to evaluate projects by examining how closely the technology developed can be adapted to harmful use.
In fact, Google’s Web tools are largely developed based on the use of AI, such as image searching or automatic translation. There are possibilities that the tools themselves could easily violate the ethical principles. For example, users of Google Duplex can use it to mimic someone’s voice over the phone to make dinner reservations.
However, the Pentagon’s technological researchers and engineers say other contractors will still compete to help develop technology for the military and national defense. According to John Everett, Deputy Director of Information Innovation Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, organizations are free to choose to participate in the AI exploration.
AI should be used for good purposes. Toward this aim, MDI has built the AIWS Initiative to establish a society with the best and most effective AI application, bringing the best to humans.