Andrew Ng on Google Dropping AI Weapons Pledge

Andrew Ng Backs Google's Shift on AI in Weaponry

Andrew Ng, who founded and previously led Google Brain, has expressed his approval of Google’s recent decision to rescind its commitment against developing AI systems for military applications.

During a discussion at the Military Veteran Startup Conference in San Francisco, Ng stated, “I’m very glad that Google has changed its stance,” as reported by TechCrunch on Thursday evening.

Google's Policy Change and Rationale

Earlier this week, Google removed a seven-year-old pledge from its AI principles page. This pledge had previously stated the company would refrain from designing AI for weapons or surveillance purposes.

Concurrently with the removal, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis published a blog post. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between companies and governments to develop AI that “supports national security.”

The Project Maven Controversy

Google initially made its pledge regarding AI weapons in 2018. This followed protests related to Project Maven, where thousands of employees voiced opposition to the company’s contracts with the U.S. military.

The core concern of the protestors was Google’s provision of AI for a military program. This program aimed to enhance the interpretation of video imagery and potentially improve the precision of drone strikes.

Ng's Perspective on the Protests

Ng admitted he found the Project Maven protests perplexing, particularly when addressing an audience predominantly composed of veterans.

He questioned, “So how the heck can an American company refuse to help our own service people that are out there, fighting for us?” acknowledging the sacrifices made by military personnel.

Ng's Current Role and Advocacy

Although not employed by Google during the Project Maven protests, Ng significantly contributed to the development of AI and neural networks at Google.

Currently, Ng heads AI Fund, an AI-focused venture studio, and frequently shares his views on AI policy.

Support for Open Source AI Development

Ng expressed relief that two AI regulatory initiatives – the vetoed California SB 1047 bill and Biden’s reversed AI executive order – were no longer active.

He consistently argued that both proposals would hinder the advancement of open source AI development within the United States.

The Importance of Competition with China

Ng believes that ensuring American technological competitiveness with China is crucial for AI safety.

He highlighted that AI-powered drones have the potential to “completely revolutionize the battlefield.”

Schmidt's Lobbying Efforts

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is also advocating for similar policies. He is currently lobbying in Washington, D.C., to promote the procurement of AI drones to counter China’s advancements.

His company, White Stork, is positioned to potentially supply these drones.

Internal Divisions at Google

The use of AI by the military remains a divisive issue within Google.

Dissenting Voices Within Google

Meredith Whittaker, now president of Signal, spearheaded the Maven protests in 2018 while working as an AI researcher at Google.

She welcomed Google’s decision not to renew its Project Maven contracts, stating the company “should not be in the business of war.”

Geoffrey Hinton, a former Google AI researcher and Nobel laureate, has previously advocated for a global ban and regulation of AI in weapons.

Jeff Dean, now DeepMind’s chief scientist, also signed a letter opposing the use of machine learning in autonomous weapons.

Recent Scrutiny of Military Contracts

Google and Amazon have faced increased scrutiny in recent years regarding their military work, including their Project Nimbus contracts with the Israeli government.

Employees of both cloud providers organized sit-ins last year to protest Project Nimbus, which reportedly provides cloud computing services to the Israel Defense Forces.

Increased Demand for AI in Defense

The Department of Defense’s chief AI officer has indicated a growing interest in utilizing AI. Militaries worldwide share this increased appetite.

As tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft invest heavily in AI infrastructure, many are seeking to recover these investments through partnerships with the military.