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DeepMind workers sign letter in protest of Google's defense contracts | TechCrunch

Aug 23, 2024 - news.bensbites.com
Over 200 employees at Google's AI R&D division, DeepMind, have expressed their dissatisfaction with Google's defense contracts. They circulated a letter in May, expressing concerns about the company's contracts with military organizations and the potential impact on their position as leaders in ethical and responsible AI. The letter also highlighted a potential culture clash between Google and DeepMind, which Google acquired in 2014 and pledged in 2018 that its technology would never be used for military or surveillance purposes.

In other news, NASA is set to decide whether astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return to Earth on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft or use SpaceX’s Dragon instead. Meanwhile, Waymo is considering offering a service to chauffeur kids, and Cruise, General Motors’ self-driving subsidiary, has announced a multi-year partnership with Uber to bring its robotaxis to the ride-hailing platform in 2025.

Key takeaways:

  • At least 200 workers at DeepMind, Google’s AI R&D division, have expressed their displeasure with Google’s defense contracts, particularly those involving military organizations and weapon manufacturing.
  • NASA is set to announce whether astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return to Earth on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft or use SpaceX’s Dragon instead.
  • Waymo is considering offering a service to chauffeur kids, potentially relieving parents from the task of picking up their children from after-school activities.
  • Cruise, General Motors’ self-driving subsidiary, has announced a multi-year partnership with Uber to bring its robotaxis to the ride-hailing platform in 2025.
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