Google AI workers demand union recognition over use of technology by Israeli and US military
Employees seek union recognition as they oppose classified military work and a $1.2 billion cloud contract with Israel, organizers said.
- On Tuesday, Google DeepMind employees in London requested management recognize the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union to address concerns regarding defense contracts and potential AI misuse.
- Employees oppose Google's controversial military partnerships, including a top-secret Pentagon AI agreement and a $1.2 billion cloud services contract with the Israeli government signed in 2021 to supply Israel.
- The Department of Defense confirmed Friday that Google secured agreements for classified AI operations, with spokeswoman Jenn Crider stating the company is "proud to be part of a broad consortium" supporting national security.
- Alphabet president of global affairs Kent Walker defended the company's defense work, while the unionization letter gives management 10 working days to voluntarily recognize the unions before organizers launch legal proceedings.
- If successful, DeepMind would become the first frontier AI lab to unionize, potentially sparking similar actions across the industry as staff consider "research strikes" abstaining from core AI product development.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Google AI Workers in UK Vote to Unionise Amid Deal With US Military
Workers at the UK branch of Google’s AI lab, DeepMind, have voted to unionise – partly in a bid to resist deals with the US and Israeli militaries. The workers wrote to management on Tuesday to request the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union be recognised as their representatives, after voting to unionise in April. Google finalised a new deal to supply DeepMind technologies to the Pentagon last week. “I have joined the union due to c…
Why Google DeepMind workers in UK are trying to unionise over company's Pentagon AI deals
Google DeepMind employees in the UK have voted to unionise, demanding an end to Google's Pentagon AI deal and military contracts. Here is what the landmark bid means for the future of AI ethics in the workplace.
UK Google DeepMind staff vote to unionize
The UK staff of Google DeepMind voted to unionize amid concerns of the company’s deal with the US Department of Defense.The Pentagon reached agreements with seven AI companies, including Google, for “lawful use” of their tech in the military; Anthropic, which feuded with the Pentagon over use of its tools, was not among them.But the deal was unpopular with Google’s employees, hundreds of whom signed an open letter condemning it.One told WIRED th…
Google AI workers unionising over US, Israeli military tech
UK-based Google AI workers are unionising in a bid to end the use of their technology by the US and Israeli militaries. Scores of employees at Google DeepMind sent a letter to management on Tuesday requesting that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite the Union (UNITE) be recognised as their official representatives. According to CWU, the unionisation bid would secure representation for at least 1,000 staff at Google DeepMind in London…
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