Google agreed more than a month ago to enter into a partnership with the US government to develop an artificial intelligence system to analyze data taken by drones used by the military. Those from Google would use their advanced artificial intelligence system to do part of the work that until now had to be done by various employees of the US Army, and this made some employees... of Google a little upset.
Google entered a project called Maven, which was initiated by the US Army to develop artificial intelligence to identify objects from footage and pictures taken by drones used in missions. Google is going to use its artificial intelligence offered for Cloud clients, or Google Photos, to identify these objects, but its employees do not really agree with the use of the software for military purposes.
Google could make the terminator movie a reality
Google claims that its software will only be used to analyze video and photo materials that are not classified as state secrets, but an open letter signed by more than 3000 employees demands that the partnership not take place. Google employees ask the company to establish rules according to which its software cannot be used for military applications, and from here anyone can think of the action from the well-known Terminator series.
"Thousands of Google employees, including dozens of senior engineers, have signed a letter protesting the company's involvement in a Pentagon program that uses artificial intelligence to interpret video imagery and could be used to improve the targeting of drone strikes."
Google said that its artificial intelligence will not be used to control drones in flight, or to launch missiles, but of course, from the simple identification of objects to something else, it can be a simple easy step to take. Google is now in the position of having to reassure employees who are fearful and believe that artificial intelligence could be used for evil purposes and their fears are justified, so it is hard to say what Google will do.
