Google staff AI revolt jeopardises Pentagon cloud deals

The logo of Google is pictured during the Viva Tech start-up and technology summit in Paris, France, May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

On the afternoon of June 1, an e-mail went out to more than 4,000 Google employees who had signed a petition to cancel a company contract with the Pentagon. It was celebratory. 

“Today was big,” began the e-mail, which was viewed by Bloomberg News. That morning, Google cloud chief Diane Greene said the company wouldn’t renew a contract with Project Maven, a Defense Department program that uses artificial intelligence to analyse drone footage. She also said Google “will not pursue similar DoD contracts,” according to the e-mail, which was authored by one of the protesting employees.